Flag Policy

Amended: 5/1/2024

The choice of which flags to raise on Town flagpoles is government speech to which the strictures of the Free Speech Clause of the First Amendment do not apply. The Town does not intend, nor has it ever intended, to designate Town flagpoles as a public forum for private speech.

The purpose of this policy is to establish guidelines for the Town of Princeton, acting through its Selectboard, for the display of:

1. Governmental flags, including official flags of the U.S. Military and
2. Other flags, including commemorative flags.

In adopting this policy, the Selectboard declares that flagpoles, owned or maintained by the Town of Princeton, are not intended to and do not serve as a forum for free expression by the public, but rather as expressions of the Town’s official sentiment.

The Selectboard approves the following flags to be flown, on Town flagpoles and in the following order: first the flag of the United States of America; second the POW/MIA flag, third the flag of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts; and fourth the flag of the Town of Princeton.

Pursuant to a vote of the Selectboard, flags listed below may be flown by the Town in place of the Princeton flag. Each such vote shall state the start date and duration the flag will be flown. In the event that no duration is stated, a default time of one week shall apply.

• Flags of governments recognized by the United States
• Flags of Town departments
• Flags displayed in conjunction with official Town resolutions, Proclamations, events or ceremonies.

The Town shall acquire ownership of all flags that it flies on its flag poles. In order for a flag to be used, it must have appropriate grommets for hanging and measure at most 3 feet by 5 feet.

The Selectboard reserves the right to amend this policy and procedure from time to time as they deem appropriate.