4 U.S.C. § 9 — Conduct during hoisting, lowering or passing of flag

This section describes how people should act during the raising or lowering of the flag, or when it passes by in a parade or review. People present who are in uniform should give the military salute. Members of the Armed Forces and veterans who are present, but not in uniform, may also give the military salute. Everyone else present should face the flag and stand at attention. They should place their right hand over their heart. If they are wearing a hat, they may instead remove it with their right hand and hold it at their left shoulder, keeping that hand over their heart. Citizens of other countries who are present should stand at attention. When the flag is part of a moving column, people should show this respect at the exact moment the flag passes them.