Have a U.S. Flag Flown Over the Nation's Capitol to Commemorate a Special Occasion!

The Capitol Flag Program began in 1937 when a Member of Congress requested a flag that had flown over the Capitol. Over the years the focus of the program gradually expanded to encompass the commemoration of national holidays and various special events, as well as to honor the work of groups such as schools and civic organizations. Requests for Capitol flags rapidly outgrew the supply; hence, the Architect of the Capitol (AOC) instituted a program of flying smaller flags that may be purchased through Members' offices.

The AOC fulfills all flag requests from Members of the United States Senate and the House of Representatives. Flags are flown daily year-round, weather permitting, excluding Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Day and New Year's Day.

Currently, the AOC fulfills on average more than 100,000 flag requests from Members of Congress annually, with the number of requests and the popularity of the Capitol Flag Program growing steadily each year. There are special flag poles where all flags are flown. After it is flown over the U.S. Capitol, each flag is issued a keepsake Certificate of Authenticity by the AOC.

For federal law relating to display and associated questions for flying the United States Flag, please read the CRS Report.

Members of the general public must contact their representative or senator to obtain a flag flown over the Capitol.

The Washington, D.C. office of Congress Woman Terri Sewell is happy to assist any Alabamian in purchasing a U.S. Flag to be flown over our nation's Capitol.

Flag Order Form

If you would like to order a U.S. flag from my office, please use this flag order form to calculate the price and shipping costs.

You will have the option for printing the completed form for sending to my office with your check.

You will also have the option to request the flags purchased to be flown over the Capitol.

All flags come with a certificate to commemorate the day on which the flag was flown. Should you wish to dedicate the flag to a special individual for a special occasion, simply submit that information, including the name of the individual or group, the occasion, with your online request or along with a money order made payable to the Keeper of Stationery for one of the amounts listed below. In making your requests, please submit the order at least four weeks prior to the date when you would like to have the flag flown, and allow at least four to six weeks for delivery. 

To order a flag please fill out the form and send a check or money order, you also have the option to use the online payment system at the end of the form.