The Stars and Stripes

The flag of the United States, commonly known as “the Stars and Stripes” consists of a blue field at the upper left corner, with one white star for each state in the Union. They represent “a new constellation,” a form of government never before seen when it was created, on July 4, 1776.
The flag also consists of 13 alternating red and white stripes, representing the original 13 colonies. Originally, both stars and stripes were added for each new state (the flag that inspired the National Anthem had 15 stars and 15 stripes) but an Act of Congress set the number of stripes at 13.
Proper flag etiquette is detailed in Title 4 of the United States Code describes proper display of the Stars and Stripes.
The flag should always be displayed with the union at the top, except as a sign of life-threatening distress on ships at sea.
The flag is to be flown outdoors during daylight hours, unless it can be illuminated, when it can be flown in darkness. When carried on a staff, it should always be free in the wind, held upright and never dipped or lowered. The flag should never touch the ground.
When draped over a deceased, the union should be at the left shoulder; it should never be lowered into the grave.
The flag should be raised briskly to the top of any flag pole. On Memorial Day, and days of mourning, it is raised to its peak and then lowered slowly to half-staff. At noon on Memorial Day, the flag is again raised to full staff, where it remains until lowered. On days of mourning, it is briefly raised to full-staff before being slowly lowered in the evening.
When hung horizontally against a wall, the union should be to the viewers left. When suspended over a space, the union should be at the east in a north-south space - north in an east-west space.
In the U.S., when in a group of flags, the Stars and Stripes should always be at “its own right” (the viewer’s left) and advanced, or at the center and in front. With very few exceptions, no other flag or pennant shall be higher. International protocol dictates that national flags are to be flown at the same level during peacetime.