When Is Labor Day 2026 and Why the American Flag Belongs in It
Labor Day 2026 is on Monday, September 7, the first Monday in September. The holiday celebrates the jobs and the jobsites – mostly blue collar, but also white collar at the office. Those American flag ties tie that recognition to something larger. It symbolizes America's strength and prosperity garnered by the people who come and do the work.
Should the Flag Fly at Full Staff or Half Staff on Labor Day?
Full staff. This is the question most people get wrong, so it is worth stating plainly.
Why Labor Day Is a Full Staff Holiday Under the US Flag Code
Half staff days are days of mourning, such as Peace Officers Memorial Day and Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day. Labor Day is a celebration -- and the US flag goes to the top of the flag pole from sunrise to sunset. American Legion verifies complete staff display for Labor Day in conjunction with Flag Day, Armed Forces Day and Independence Day. If not a half staff proclamation by the President or your governor, raise it fully.
The History of Labor Day and Its Connection to the Stars and Stripes
From the 1882 Parade to a Federal Holiday in 1894
The first Labor Day was celebrated in New York City on 5th Labor Day, 1882. Thousands of workers took sick leave to join the Central Labor Union's parade, which started at City Hall and wound its way through the streets to Union Square. Oregon was the first state to pass a Labor Day law in February 1887 and on June 28, 1894, President Grover Cleveland signed it into a legal holiday, the first Monday in September. The origins of the holiday still remain up for debate, either between carpenter Peter McGuire or machinist Matthew Maguire.
The Banners the First Marchers Carried
The marchers held banners to demand fair wages, reasonable hours and safer working conditions. Flags and banners were the instruments of the messages. It's an association that dates back to Betsy Rose and to the very inception of the flag itself, where an embroidered emblem could become a whole national ethos. On Labor Day you are flying the flag in the same way as those who used cloth to express something that was important.
How to Display Your American Flag on Labor Day
Lift flag quickly to the top and lower it with dignity at the end of the day. Make sure your flag is free of fading, frayed ends, and a loosen fly-end before the holiday. A worn flag is a poor sign of pride and craftsmanship on a day of pride and craftsmanship.
Flying the US Flag With State and International Flags
If you fly the Missouri or Illinois state flag with the American flag, the American flag will be in the superior position and can not be smaller. This is also true for flags of other countries. No matter which flag you are flying—a Colombian flag to honor the family or a state flag to celebrate a local occasion—the Stars and Stripes fly highest on a single pole, or to its own right when flown on separate poles of the same height.
Honoring American Workers With American Made Flags
It's appropriate that the flag is an American production and is dedicated to the hardworking people of America. Search for the FMAA certification and Made in USA label, which will ensure that materials, stitching and craftsmanship are from local manufacturers. Heavyweight nylon, lock stitched stripes and embroidered stars will last throughout a Missouri summer and beyond.
Ready for Labor Day? Browse our American made flags, residential and commercial flagpoles, and custom banners at baldwinflags.com, or call our St. Louis team at (314) 535-2800 to schedule a flagpole consultation for your home, business, or school. Veteran owned and proudly serving since 1908.
Frequently Asked Questions:
- Is Labor Day a half staff day?
No. Labor Day is a full staff holiday. The flag flies at the top of the pole from sunrise to sunset.
- Is Labor Day officially a flag holiday?
Yes. It is one of the national flag flying days recognized under the US Flag Code.
- Can I fly another country's flag on Labor Day?
Yes. A Colombian flag or any international flag may be displayed, but the American flag must be in the position of honor and no smaller.
- Who started Labor Day?
Either Peter McGuire or Matthew Maguire. Recent research supports Maguire, who proposed the holiday in 1882 while serving as secretary of the Central Labor Union.
Labor Day and the American Flag