Virginia law prohibits the public desecration of flags, including burning, mutilating, or defacing them. Additionally, it mandates flying flags at half-staff to honor public safety personnel killed in the line of duty, such as police officers, firefighters, emergency medical providers, and service members. The Department of General Services is tasked with developing procedures to implement these provisions.
It is illegal to publicly burn, mutilate, deface, defile, trample upon, or wear with intent to defile any flag, standard, or shield in Virginia.
Flags must be flown at half-staff for one day to honor service members, police officers, firefighters, or emergency medical providers killed in the line of duty.
The Department of General Services is tasked with developing procedures to implement the half-staff honor for fallen public safety personnel.
Yes, the law applies to all flags, standards, colors, ensigns, or shields publicly displayed at buildings owned or operated by the Commonwealth or political subdivisions.