FAQs
About Annin®
All of the American, State, Armed Forces, International and Religious flags, and all patriotic decorations, are made in the U.S.A. with materials that are domestic in origin. Some of our special interest products, such as the Officially Licensed sports team flags, are imported. Unless it is noted on the catalog page on which they are sold, the flags are made in the U.S.A. Our manufacturing plants are in South Boston, Virginia, Cobbs Creek, Virginia and Coshocton, Ohio. We try to source domestically whenever possible, however, some of our hardware items and flagpoles are imported. Visit About Us to learn more.
We do not make or sell the Confederate Battle or Confederate Field Artillery flags. While opinions may vary, flags are very powerful symbols. The Confederate Battle Flags have evolved over the years. Since the 1950’s and 1960’s, these flags have become a symbol of a negative aspect of our country’s past. For some people, they represent some very negative and hateful opinions.
You can visit our Catalog or Where to Buy pages or contact an authorized independent specialty flag retailer for a catalog. Annin does not sell direct to the consumer. Our catalogs are distributed by these specialty retailers to B2B business prospects and customers.
Annin does not provide factory tours as we are a functioning manufacturer and distribution center with required safety precautions for anyone on the production floor. Non- Annin employees present an insurance risk and other liabilities to the company. You may find Annin products through the Coshocton Supply Company:
Coshocton Supply Company
432 N. Whitewoman Street, Coshocton, OH 43812
740-622-4877 | 800-338-4724
Please visit our Where To Buy page to find a list of our resellers. Please read the description at the top of the page so you can select the best retailer for your needs by understanding the types of flags carried and expertise provided by retailers, dot coms and independent flag specialists.
Annin Flagmakers is one of the founding members of the Flag Manufacturers Association of America. The organization was created after September 11, 2001 to insure that all US flags sold in the US are properly labeled with their country of origin and meet the legal requirements of the Federal Trade Commission and the Textile & Wool Act. The domestic member manufacturers also created a “Certified Made in the U.SA.” label and program as a way for you to confirm that the flag you are purchasing is made in the U.S.A. of domestic materials and domestic labor. Flags are treated as a textile and therefore must have a country of origin label on the product and statement on packaging among other labeling requirements. To insure that the consumer purchasing on a dot com site is informed, Annin Flagmakers shows actual images of its labels and the FMAA label, as well as provides this information in our copy. Learn more at www.fmaa-usa.com
The FTC (Federal Trade Commission) Textile & Wool Act requires that all textiles have a label that is permanently affixed, that identifies the manufacturer, (or distributor), gives the fiber content by percentage and states the country of origin. All flags, with the exception of stick flags and decorations like fans, are classified as a textile and are obligated to follow the labeling requirements of this act. This is one way you can determine that your flag is made in the U.S.A. If you see a flag that does not meet this label requirement, you should report it to the FMAA (Flag Manufacturer’s Association of America) at info@fmaa-usa.com and they will inform the FTC.
About Flags
Visit vexman.net/antique.htm. Dave Martucci is very knowledgeable and provides assessments via his website.
There are several materials to choose from when purchasing a flag. There are many variables that determine a flags quality, durability and price. Materials used for flags are designed for specific use, flying habits and climate. They vary in thickness, weave and weight. The quality of the inks used to dye the material, or for the digital printing process, determine the level of fade resistance and color fastness. The type of thread and methods to stitch the flag and the fly ends determine whether your flag will fray or shred in high winds. The most popular and best waving flag is nylon – Annin® Nyl-Glo®. If your flag will be flown outside you need to first decide if you will fly it only on flag flying holidays or daily. Then you must take into consideration your climate, as extreme climates and wind will dictate a special fabric. The best material for extreme weather is polyester – Annin® Tough-Tex®.
The most common flag for residential use is a 3’ x 5’ which can be used on a 5’ and 6’ pole that is attached to the house on an angel or a 20’ inground flagpole. Please visit our Flag Materials and Sizes page for more information.
Please visit our Choosing The Correct Size Flag page.
You need to read the descriptions carefully. With flags, you really do get what you pay for. Low cost flags are usually polycotton for seasonal use only. Extremely low-cost flags are likely to be imported and not Made in the U.S.A. They will not hold up as well, will wear out in one season or less and cost you more in the long run as you replace them more often.
The stripes are sewn separately. The hems are then overlapped and sewn together. The front hemmed section continues with the red stripe and the white stripe at the fold. When you look at the back it is opposite – the white hemmed stripe sits on the red and the red hemmed stripe sits on the white. If you look at a dyed/printed US flag, the hems are fine because the stripes are not overlapped and sewn together.
The government allows a 5% tolerance either way – smaller/larger. Since the flag is being put together by hand, there is a chance that the flags don’t measure exact. A typical 3’ x 5’ flag (36” x 60”) could actually measure 34” x 57” due to the tolerance of the type of sewing of the stripes.
The label placement is the industry standard. Annin has been finishing their flags this way for over 170 years.
Contact an authorized independent specialty flag retailer listed on our Where to Buy page. You will need to explain what part you are missing, provide an image of your product, as well as the measurements of your flag or flagpole.
Flag Etiquette
Visit the Flag Etiquette section of our website. There you can access the complete version of the Flag Code of the United States. We also provide a link to the most frequently asked questions presented by The Old Farmer’s Almanac.
The folding of an American flag into the shape of a triangle is part of a military ceremony and has evolved into a custom that has been picked up by the VFW, American Legion, the Boy and Girl Scouts and other patriotic organizations. The folding of flags is done out of respect and performed by a military honor guard at a graveside ceremony for veterans.
Yes, it is definitely proper to do so. Because of the circumstances in which the flag was used and received (as a triangle folded flag by a military honor guard), most recipients prefer to place the flag in a triangular flag case. The US Government dictates for the official VA (Veterans Administration) contract, the use of a cotton flag so it is less likely to slide off the coffin. These flags do not fly as well as nylon, so it is less likely to wear well over time if flown.
The folding of an American flag into the shape of a triangle is part of a military ceremony and has evolved into a custom that has been picked up by the VFW, American Legion, the Boy and Girl Scouts and other patriotic organizations. There is no right or wrong way to fold an American flag, if it is treated with respect. The Flag Code of the United States does not mention a specific way of folding the flag nor does it endorse any one ceremony. The recommended details for folding the flag are as follows:
- Fold the flag in half lengthwise
- Repeat, fold in half lengthwise again, being careful that the blue field is on the outside
- As one person holds the flag by the blue field, another makes a triangular fold at the opposite end of the flag and continues to make triangular folds until the entire flag is in a triangle.
- Tuck the loose edge of the flag into the pocket formed by the folds so that only the blue field and white stars are visible.
There is one well-known ceremony for flag folding, often attributed to the Air Force Academy, in which each of the twelve folds of the flag is assigned a symbolic meaning. A copy of the ceremony may be found on our Resources page.
Many people ask the flag manufacturers if fabrics can be flame “retardant” or flame “resistant” [so the flag cannot be burned in protest]. Flame “resistant” fabrics are inherently nonflammable and are designed to prevent the spread of fire and will not melt or drip when near a flame. However, they are not usually made of 100% flame resistant materials or components, and as a result, they will burn, but will do so very slowly. Flame “retardant” fabrics are chemically treated to be slow burning or self-extinguishing when exposed to an open flame — but they too will still burn. As such, while these treatments can be added to the production of a flag, they will only serve to raise the price and slow the burn but not prevent the burn. They do not facilitate preventing flag burning.
Annin does not have a recycling program. We have found that you are at the discretion of the recycling companies as to their demand for nylon materials. In order to recycle a flag, you must separate the component parts of the flag. It is imperative that the blue field be cut away from the stripes so that it is no longer considered a flag. Then for the purpose of recycling, the heading and grommet must be cut away from the flag as they are made of different materials and may or may not be useful to any recyclers. There are a few active military and veteran charities that will use old flags or the stars for special veteran related purposes.
US Flag Code
The United States Flag Code establishes advisory rules for display and care of the national flag of the United States of America. It is Chapter 1 of Title 4 of the United States Code.
When displayed either horizontally or vertically against a wall or in a window, the union (blue star field) should be on the top left, as you face the flag.
When displayed with other flags on the same pole, the US Flag must always be on top and the other flags must not be any larger than the US Flag. When displayed with other flags on individual poles, the US flag should be in the center and more prominent (a larger flag or on a taller pole).
The flag code states that it is the universal custom to display the flag only from sunrise to sunset on buildings and on stationary flag poles in the open. However, when a patriotic effect is desired, the flag may be displayed 24 hours a day if properly illuminated during the hours of darkness.
It should never touch anything beneath it, such as the ground, the floor, water or merchandise. The flag should not be dipped to any person or thing. It should never be displayed with the union down, save as a signal of dire distress. It should never be carried flat or horizontally, but always aloft and free.
There are several official days whereby the US Flag must be flown at half-staff either from sunrise to noon or from sunrise to sunset. Visit our Flag Flying Holidays page to learn more. Other days may be announced by the President of the United States or a State’s Governor to commemorate a tragic event or the passing of an honorable statesman.
Visit our Flag Flying Holidays page to learn more.
The Flag Code contains no fines or other penalties. There is no agency to whom to report violations. It is meant to be a guideline for flag etiquette and it is not enforceable by any Federal Law.
Flag Care and Repair
Annin Nyl-Glo® (nylon) flags can be hand-washed or machine-washed on delicate with cool water and a mild detergent. To dry the flag, it can be hung or placed flat on a safe, clean surface. Our Tough-Tex® (polyester) flags can also be washed in the same manner or professionally dry cleaned. Remember to not fold the flag or put away damp. The colors may run or the flag could become moldy.
The easiest way to get wrinkles out of a flag, especially a Nyl-Glo® flag is with an iron. Annin recommends spraying some water lightly on the flag, setting the iron to cool to warm (make sure the iron is not too hot so as not to melt the material) and just gently go over the flag until the wrinkles are out. If you have a steamer, that will also work.
There is no way to predict accurately the life of an outdoor flag, regardless of the fabric used in manufacture. Our Nyl-Glo® flags usually last longer than those of Bulldog (heavyweight cotton) bunting. Tough-Tex® (2-ply spun polyester) flags generally are the longest wearing. Just how long, however, depends on many factors. Visit Outdoor Flags & Sets to learn more. While this is a common question, the answer is ‘it depends’. The US Government generally expects a nylon flag to last approximately 90 days. This is based on daily display from sunrise to sunset and does not include flying in inclement weather. This will vary for flags on display 24/7, as they are expected to last only one-fourth as long as flags flown only during daylight hours. Other factors effecting the wear and tear of a flag, regardless of how well constructed, are the climate (heat, cold, wind, salt air, snow), the proximity of the flag to trees, roof lines and power lines. If you treat your flag with care, you will find it lasts much longer. It is a serious violation of flag etiquette to fly a damaged or tattered flag.