The Suicide Awareness & Remembrance Flag is intended to be flown continuously, along with or under the United States flag. The SAR Flag may also fly independently on a separate flagpole, respecting the protocol of other state or official flags. However, the ideal display is along with the United States flag, & POW/MIA flag. When on the same flagpole, it should be under or at the lowest position to the other two flags. (Example: US flag-top, then POW/MIA flag-middle, then SAR Flag bottom)
When flags are flown from adjacent flagstaffs, the flag of the United States should be hoisted first and lowered last. The SAR Flag should be flown on the flagpole with and below the flag of the United States & POW/MIA flag.
When the SAR Flag is on an adjacent flagpole, it may not be placed above the flag of the United States or above the POW/MIA flag or to its right (the viewer’s left) if the flagpoles are of equal height.
When flags are flown from three adjacent flagpoles of unequal height, the United States flag should be hoisted first and lowered last. The SAR Flag should be flown on the flagpole to the right (the viewer’s left) of the United States flag, on the same flagpole as the POW/MIA flag, directly under. State and other flags should be flown from the third flagstaff, unless otherwise stipulated by your state flag code.
When flags are flown from adjacent flagpoles of equal height, the flag of the United States should be hoisted first and lowered last and no other flag should be flown to its right (the viewer’s left). The POW/MIA flag should be flown on the flagpole to the immediate left (the viewer’s right) of the United States flag, followed by the SAR Flag and state or other flags flown farther left (the viewer’s right), unless otherwise stipulated by your state flag code.
When the SAR Flag is carried in procession by itself, it should be carried front and center ahead of a marching unit. When carried in procession abreast with the United States flag, the SAR Flag should be on the marching left of the United States flag (the viewer’s right, when facing head on at the marching unit). When carried in procession abreast with the United States flag, & the POW/MIA flag, the SAR Flag should be on the marching left of the POW/MIA flag (the viewer’s right, when facing head on at the marching unit). When a line of flags follow the United States flag, the US flag is centered on the line. The SAR Flag should be on the marching right of the line of flags, directly behind the POW/MIA flag (the viewer’s left, when facing head on at the marching unit), unless otherwise stipulated by your state flag code.
When the SAR Flag is displayed on wall, such as behind a speaker’s platform, the flag must be fully visible & displayed centered, above the speaker or platform/podium.
When the SAR Flag is displayed with the United States flag on a speaker’s platform, the United States flag should be on the speaker’s right and the SAR Flag on the speaker’s left. When the SAR Flag is displayed with the United States flag & POW/MIA flag on a speaker’s platform, the United States flag should be on the speaker’s right and the POW/MIA flag on the speaker’s left followed by the SAR Flag.
When flying the United States and the SAR Flag, or U.S. flag, POW/MIA flag & the SAR Flag at half-staff, they should first be elevated to peak position, held there momentarily, and then lowered to half-staff. At the day’s end, each should be again elevated to peak position before being lowered. If the flags are on different flagstaffs, the United States flag should be raised first and lowered last.
The Suicide Awareness & Remembrance Flag should always be the same size or one size smaller than the American flag with which it flies. (Example: If you are flying a 4 x 6 American flag the SAR Flag should be no smaller than 3 x 5)
When the SAR Flag becomes unserviceable, it should be disposed of respectfully.
The SAR Flag should never be displayed along with political flags or flags of hate or controversy.
The SAR Flag flies to honor & remember every American Veteran & Active Military member who died by suicide. It flies to honor their families. It also flies as tangible symbol of hope to living Veterans & Active Military by displaying our nation’s commitment to resolve the Veteran suicide epidemic.
Our goal is to have the Suicide Awareness & Remembrance Flag officially recognized by Congress similar to the POW/MIA flag. We aim to fly the SAR Flag at the White House & U.S. Capitol, the Departments of State, Defense and Veterans Affairs, the United States Postal Service post offices, all national cemeteries in the Federal system, the National Vietnam Veterans Memorial and the Korean War Memorial must fly the SAR Flag displaying our nation’s commitment to remember & honor the Veterans & Active Military who died by suicide, as well as honoring their families and to work further on suicide prevention and intervention.
The Suicide Awareness & Remembrance Flag also stands as a tangible symbol of hope to living Veterans and Active Military by displaying our solidarity in the daily fight to end Veteran suicide while raising a continued awareness, thereby removing the stigma associated with mental health, seeking out treatment, and Veteran & Active Military suicide.
The SAR Flag should also be flown or displayed on special federal holidays such as Armed Forces Day, Memorial Day, Flag Day, Independence Day, Gold Star Mother's, Family and Wive's Days and Veterans Day on the grounds or in the public lobbies of all military installations, as designated by the Secretary of Defense, all federal national cemeteries, the national Korean War Veterans Memorial, the National Vietnam Veterans Memorial, the White House, the United States Postal Service post offices and at the offices of the Secretaries of State, Defense and Veteran's Affairs, and the Director of the Selective Service System.
