This Flag Dips to No Earthly King

A few weeks ago I was at a ball game between Edmonton and Sacramento. Two flags flew over the stadium, and two anthems were sung at the beginning of the games. During the singing of the Canadian, several Americans removed their hats, holding them over their hearts for the anthem. I guess I'm a bigot, but it just seemed wrong for Americans to show such a symbol of deference to a foreign flag. Sure, you're supposed to stand at respectful attention, but I was told you don't put your hand over your heart for any flag but your own (when "you" happen to be an American, at least). Removing hats seems like it'd be fine, but I wouldn't have thought it necessary for civilians. I wasn't alone in this feeling, but obviously the refusal to "salute" foreign flags isn't a universal thing.

Tonight I've been researching American "flag arrogance" to see whether this is a cultural "supersition" or a bona fide tradition.

The first instance is the 1908 Olympic games, which inaugurated both the march of flags, and the refusal of Americans to dip their flag for foreign leaders. A number of versions of this story seem to be floating around. In some accounts, it was Martin Sheridan who argued "this flag dips to no earthly king." Other accounts seem to argue that it was Ralph Rose.

Consulting the official flag code, we find that the following standards of respect are due to the flag 36 USC 10 §176:

• the flag should not be dipped to any person or thing
  
• The flag should never be displayed with the union down
  
• The flag should never touch anything beneath it
  
• The flag should never be carried flat or horizontally
  
• The flag should never be used as wearing apparel, bedding, or drapery
  
• The flag should never be fastened, displayed, used, or stored in such a manner as to permit it to be easily torn, soiled, or damaged in any way
  
• The flag should never be used as a covering for a ceiling (whoops!)
  
• The flag should never have placed upon it, nor on any part of it, nor attached to it any mark, insignia, letter, word, figure, design, picture, or drawing of any nature
  
• The flag should never be used as a receptacle for receiving, holding, carrying, or delivering anything
  
• The flag should never be used for advertising purposes in any manner whatsoever
  
• No part of the flag should ever be used as a costume or athletic uniform.
  
• The flag, when it is in such condition that it is no longer a fitting emblem for display, should be destroyed in a dignified way, preferably by burning

But no word on how to treat foreign flags there. There are rules for treating the American flag during the playing of the anthem (36 USC I.A.3 §301(b)(1):

• all present except those in uniform should stand at attention facing the flag with the right hand over the heart
  
• men not in uniform should remove their headdress with their right hand and hold the headdress at the left shoulder, the hand being over the heart

So, there's nothing there arguing that one should take one's hat off for a foreign flag...

But there is some argument that these things SHOULD matter. I mean, the Queen of England apparently has never sung a foreign anthem before September 11, 2001. If the NRO is to be believed...

This is a softball site which only stipulates that it is custom to pay the foreign anthem first.

Ironically, I keep googling up CANADIAN protocols regarding placing one's hand over one's heart druing foreign anthems. Finding one that I can trace to the actual US government (rather than possible web propagation) is proving harder.

I have found the following section of the US Code

When not in uniform, men should remove their headdress with their right hand and hold it at the left shoulder, the hand being over the heart. Aliens should stand at attention.

It doesn't specifically indicate that aliens should remove their headdress with their right hand and hold it at the left shoulder...

Here's something from the US Army

The organizational Color salutes (dips) in all military ceremonies while the National Anthem, "To the Color," or a foreign national anthem is being played, and when rendering honors to the organizational commander or an individual of higher grade including foreign dignitaries of higher grade, but in no other case.

This is an interesting little Canadian discussion:

That's a thing that's always bugged me though. I don't care if you don't sing to a foreign national anthem, but booing it is the utmost disrespectful thing you could do. In my humble (and slightly intoxicated) opinion. And for the record, there's other national anthems that almost bring me to tears, but I'm not going to tell you any more.

Aha... Here we go...

Q. When do you salute?
A. When the National Anthem, To the Colors, Ruffles and Flourishes, or Hail to the Chief is played; when uncased National Colors or Standards pass by; on ceremonial occasions; in all official greetings; at Reveille (when in sight of the colors or the sound of the music); during the rendering of the honors; when passing uncased colors outside; when reporting to an officer; and when you meet and recognize an officer or warrant officer. Also the National Anthem of other countries and foreign officers are saluted.

Q. What should you do when the National Anthem of a foreign country is played?
A. If outdoors, render the hand salute; indoors, stand at attention.

So, none of this answers the real question. Should a civilian remove one's hat and place one's hand over one's heart during the playing of a foreign national anthem?

The answer appears to be, "if he wants to."

Not, "yes, he should."

But I'm open to more data. I may have taken the wrong tack...

In retrospect, I'm feeling like I probably should have removed my hat...