Over the years, I’ve learned there are certain topics that can spark a spirited debate among veterans. Military branch rivalries? Absolutely. Which service had the best chow? Without question. But few things can generate immediate feedback quite like displaying the service flags in the wrong order.
Trust me on this one.
Tracy and I help with the our town’s Veterans Memorial Association, where I have the privilege of offering the prayers during our Memorial Day and Veterans Day ceremonies. We also help with setup and preparations for our events. My wife, Tracy, serves on the association’s board, so between the two of us, we spend a fair amount of time around veterans, service members, and military families.
One thing I’ve discovered is that veterans are generally kind, respectful, and appreciative people. However, if you accidentally place the military service flags out of order, they can transform into highly motivated historians in a matter of seconds.
You may think nobody will notice.
They will.
You may think nobody will say anything.
They will.
Usually before you’ve finished tying the halyard.
The truth is that the order of military service flags isn’t based on personal preference, alphabetic order, flag colors, or which branch happens to have the loudest supporters at the moment. The order is established by the Department of Defense and follows a long-standing order of precedence.
The proper order is:
- Army
- Marine Corps
- Navy
- Air Force
- Space Force
- Coast Guard
- Merchant Marine (when included)
The United States flag always occupies the position of honor and flies above all others.
Many people assume the order is simply based on the age of each branch, but the history is a little more complicated. While the Army is the oldest branch and therefore comes first, the Marine Corps traditionally precedes the Navy in ceremonial displays even though both trace their origins to 1775. Over the years, the Department of Defense established an official order that is now recognized throughout the country.
When service flags are displayed at memorials, veterans parks, ceremonies, and public events, this order helps ensure consistency and honors the traditions of every branch.
At the Ponce Inlet Veterans Memorial, we’ve had more than one discussion about the proper placement of flags. Those conversations usually begin with someone saying, “I think that’s right,” and quickly evolve into a detailed review of military protocol, historical precedence, and occasionally some friendly inter-service banter.
The good news is that these discussions come from a place of respect. Veterans care deeply about preserving traditions because those traditions honor the men and women who served before them.
And honestly, that’s one of the things I love most about working with the memorial association. Every ceremony reminds us that freedom was purchased by ordinary Americans who answered an extraordinary call to service. Whether we’re arranging chairs, raising flags, offering prayers, or reading the names of fallen heroes, the details matter because the people we honor matter.
So the next time you attend a veterans ceremony and see the service flags displayed in their proper order, know that somebody probably spent a considerable amount of time researching, discussing, debating, and double-checking their placement.
Because somewhere nearby is a veteran who knows exactly where every flag belongs.
And if they don’t, another veteran is already preparing to explain it.
Respectfully, of course.
