Emblems - - CA Military And Veterans

Section § 611

This law discusses what is meant by the term "flag" with respect to the State Flag of California and the United States Flag. It defines the California State Flag to include any officially authorized flags, standards, colors, or ensigns, along with any representations of them. Similarly, the United States Flag is defined as any legally recognized flags, standards, or ensigns, and any depictions that might be commonly recognized as representing the U.S. flag, including its stars and stripes.

(a) “Flag,” as used in this division, means the State Flag of California and the Flag of the United States, as defined in this section.

(b) “State Flag of California” includes any flag, standard, color, or ensign authorized by the laws of this state, and every picture or representation thereof, of any size, made of any substance, or represented on any substance evidently purporting to be any such flag, standard, color, or ensign of this state, and every picture or representation which shows the design thereof.

(c) “Flag of the United States” includes any flag, standard, colors, or ensign authorized by the laws of the United States or any picture or representation of either, or of any part or parts of either, made of any substance or represented on any substance, of any size evidently purporting to be either of said flag, standard, colors, or ensign of the United States of America, or a picture or a representation of either, upon which shall be shown the colors, the stars and the stripes, in any number of either thereof, or of any part or parts of either, by which the average person seeing the same without deliberation may believe the same to represent the flag, standards, colors, or ensign of the United States of America.

flag definition California State Flag United States Flag authorized flag flag representation California laws flag standards ensign colors state flag depiction U.S. flag depiction flag recognition flag description flag symbols state authorized flags

(Amended by Stats. 1970, Ch. 1364.)

Section § 612

This section explains that the colors and standards (flags) of California's National Guard or Naval Militia should match those of the corresponding organizations in the U.S. Armed Forces. However, they can feature the state coat of arms instead of the U.S. coat of arms on specific flags. Additionally, it states that a deceased member's family can receive the colors used at the member's funeral as a keepsake, following customary military practices, and they then own those colors.

(a) The colors and standards carried by organizations of the National Guard or Naval Militia shall be those which are carried by similar organizations of the United States Army, Air Force, or Navy, except that the regimental or battalion colors or standards may show the state coat of arms, instead of the coat of arms of the United States.

(b) The Adjutant General may, pursuant to rules and regulations adopted for the purpose, deliver to the members of the family of a deceased member of the National Guard or of the State Guard the colors used during the disposition of the remains of the deceased member according to the custom and usual practice of the United States Army, Air Force, or Navy, which then become the property of the members of the family.

National Guard colors Naval Militia flags state coat of arms regimental colors battalion colors Adjutant General deceased member's family funeral customs flag delivery ownership of military colors California military organizations state flags funeral honors State Guard military keepsakes

(Amended by Stats. 2020, Ch. 97, Sec. 34. (AB 2193) Effective January 1, 2021.)

Section § 613

This law states that military groups in California that are supported by the state cannot carry flags or banners of other states or countries during ceremonies or duties, except for those of the United States and California.

No military organization provided for by the Constitution and laws of this State and receiving State support shall, while under arms, either for ceremony or duty, carry any device, banner or flag of any State or Nation except that of the United States or of this State.

military organizations ceremonial flags state-supported banners device carrying restrictions United States flag California flag state laws military ceremonial duty flag display restrictions state and national flags military banner protocol public military ceremony military duty regulations symbolic representation rules

(Enacted by Stats. 1935, Ch. 389.)

Section § 614

If someone intentionally shows disrespect to either the U.S. flag or the California state flag by actions like mutilating, burning, or defacing it in public, they commit a misdemeanor crime.

A person is guilty of a misdemeanor who knowingly casts contempt upon any Flag of the United States or of this state by publicly mutilating, defacing, defiling, burning, or trampling upon it.

flag desecration public mutilation defacing flag defiling flag burning flag trampling flag misdemeanor offense knowingly disrespect contempt on flag U.S. flag California state flag flag respect laws

(Amended by Stats. 1970, Ch. 1364.)

Section § 615

This law clarifies that rules against using U.S. or state flags don't apply to certain items and exceptions. These include items like jewelry, stationery, or publications that feature the flag without any additional design or writing and are not being used for advertising. It also doesn't apply if the use is permitted under U.S. or state laws, or military regulations.

No provision of this code or of any law of this State which makes unlawful the use of the flag of the United States or of this State or of any picture or representation thereof shall apply to any act permitted by the statutes of the United States or of this State or by any regulations of the United States Army, or United States Air Force, or United States Navy, nor shall it be contrued to apply to any newspaper, periodical, book, pamphlet, circular, certificate, diploma, warrant or commission of appointment to office, ornamental picture, article of jewelry, or stationery for use in correspondence, on which is printed, painted, or placed a flag with no design or writing thereon and not connected with any advertisement.

flag usage exceptions U.S. flag representation state flag representation permitted flag use military regulations stationery with flags jewelry with flags non-advertising flag use protected flag depictions unlawful flag use exceptions publication flag usage flag in ornamental pictures diplomas with flags certificates with flags warrants with flags

(Amended by Stats. 1949, Ch. 536.)

Section § 616

This law states that if someone displays any kind of flag, banner, or similar item in public or at a meeting, as a symbol of violent opposition to the government or as encouragement for anarchistic activities, they are committing a felony. It's illegal to use these symbols to support violence or the overthrow of the government.

Any person who displays a red flag, banner, or badge or any flag, badge, banner, or device of any color or form whatever in any public place or in any meeting place or public assembly, or from or on any house, building, or window as a sign, symbol, or emblem of forceful or violent opposition to organized government or as an invitation or stimulus to anarchistic action or as aid to propaganda that advocates by force or violence the overthrow of government is guilty of a felony.

red flag display violent opposition symbol anarchistic action invitation propaganda aid government overthrow public assembly offense forceful resistance emblem symbol of violence public display felony banner as protest

(Enacted by Stats. 1935, Ch. 389.)

Section § 617

This law states that no flag can be placed above or to the right of the U.S. flag, except the church flag during church services.

No other flag or pennant shall be placed above, or if on the same level, to the right of the Flag of the United States of America, except during church services, when the church flag may be flown.

flag positioning U.S. flag precedence church services exception flag display rules flag etiquette pennant placement flag protocol church flag right of the U.S. flag above the U.S. flag flag regulations flag hierarchy exceptions to flag rules

(Added by Stats. 1951, Ch. 551.)