A flag is a personal statement. With a single glance, flags can be used to convey information about ourselves – our political beliefs, our identities, our cultural backgrounds, our professions, and even insights into our personalities.
Additionally, flags make useful tools for advertising and other messages. You’ve probably seen a company flag advertising a sale or service while driving down the highway. Personal flags can be used in much the same way, displayed temporarily in your yard to promote events such as yard sales, parties, or rental spaces.
Flags as a Means of Expression
As mentioned previously, bypassers can glean a lot about you by looking at a flag. A patriotic flag is a clear indicator of pride and loyalty in your country. It conveys a sense of loyalty and respect towards your homeland, and perhaps even hints at strong political beliefs.
People who display pride flags in their backyard are most often members of the LGBT+ community. Rainbow flags are easily the most recognizable pride flags available for purchase, but these days, there are flags available to represent most identities in the LGBT+ community. Buying a flag specific to your identity is a more subtle way of sharing it with fellow LGBT+ community members and allies that may go unnoticed by people outside of the community.
Military flags can be used to demonstrate support for an enlisted family member or a military veteran. This flag signifies not only an obvious willingness to serve one’s country but pride for having done so.
Flags as Advertisement and Promotional Tools
Most promotional flags take the form of banners, or long, vertical flags meant to catch the eye with an advertisement of some kind. They are more likely to be temporary fixtures than a personal flag – after all, most people don’t have yard sales year-round.
How to Choose Which Flag to Display in Your Yard
The previous two points should have given you a reasonable idea of the types of messages you will be displaying by placing a flag in your yard. You can also use the following questions to further decide which flag would be best for you:
Do I want to display my flag all year long, or only during special occasions? Ex: 4th of July, Halloween, Pride Month?
Do I want my flag to be a political statement or a decoration? (Ex: a patriotic flag, or a custom embroidered flag, such as what might be displayed in a garden)
Do I live in an area with strong political tensions?
Are there any causes or beliefs that I feel strongly enough about to display in my backyard? (Ex: Your political affiliation, cultural background, or other personal beliefs that could be communicated via a flag)
Other Reasons to Display a Flag in Your Backyard
The message that a simple flag can display is a powerful one: it’s a means of celebrating their communities and showcasing their beliefs. (Or if you just want a custom embroidered flag to display in your garden, that’s okay too!)