{"id":6063,"date":"2025-08-24T20:54:13","date_gmt":"2025-08-25T00:54:13","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.gettysburgflag.com\/blog\/?p=6063"},"modified":"2025-08-25T16:02:02","modified_gmt":"2025-08-25T20:02:02","slug":"this-flag-dips-to-no-earthly-king-the-legacy-of-the-american-flag-at-the-olympics","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.gettysburgflag.com\/blog\/this-flag-dips-to-no-earthly-king-the-legacy-of-the-american-flag-at-the-olympics\/","title":{"rendered":"\u201cThis Flag Dips to No Earthly King\u201d: The Legacy of the American Flag at the Olympics"},"content":{"rendered":"

The 1908 Opening Ceremony That Changed Everything<\/b><\/h3>\n
\"Ralph<\/figure>\n

At the 1908 London Olympics, the U.S. flag bearer was Ralph\u202fRose, a powerful Irish\u2011American shot\u2011put champion. As Team USA paraded past King Edward\u202fVII\u2019s royal box, Rose <\/span>did not dip the American flag<\/b>, breaking with <\/span>international ceremony norms<\/span><\/a>.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

According to later legend\u2014first printed around 1952\u2014teammate Martin Sheridan proclaimed, <\/span>\u201cThis flag dips to no earthly king\u201d<\/b>, though historians note the<\/span> quote\u2019s authenticity remains debated<\/span><\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n

Beyond 1908<\/b><\/p>\n

Over time, that small act grew into a tradition of refusal\u2014sometimes inconsistent. The United States dipped again in 1912 (Stockholm) and 1924 (Paris) before formally deciding not to dip the flag <\/span>starting with the 1936 Berlin Games <\/span><\/a>in political protest against Nazi Germany.<\/span><\/p>\n

In the 1940s, the tradition was codified into the official <\/span>United States Flag Code<\/b>, which states that the flag \u201cshould never be dipped to any person or thing,\u201d <\/span>making it U.S. federal policy<\/span><\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n

How the Dipping Tradition Differs Around the World<\/b><\/h3>\n
\"Eritrea<\/figure>\n

While the U.S. flag stands tall and undipped, many other nations still follow the traditional practice of dipping their flags during the Olympic opening ceremony to honor the host country. This act is generally considered a sign of goodwill and international camaraderie\u2014but for Americans, the refusal to dip is a conscious expression of national identity and is not thought of as disrespecting the host country.<\/span><\/p>\n

Countries like the United Kingdom, France, and Canada all dip their flags, often without debate. In contrast, the U.S. position has sparked both admiration and criticism over the years. Some international observers interpret it as prideful or aloof, but to many Americans, it\u2019s a deeply patriotic stance rooted in history.<\/span><\/p>\n

Why This Story Still Resonates With Americans Today<\/b><\/h3>\n