Clan Flag Protocol

[EagleJCS]

I think, by definition, almost anything 'flown' from a staff can be considered a flag. (According to my American Heritage Dictionary, Third Edition, a flag is: "A piece of cloth of distinctive color and design, used as a symbol, signal, or emblem.") So, put a bit of tartan - which is of distinctive color and design, and by general agreement used as a symbol of a clan* - on a stick/pole/staff and you have yourself a clan flag. Whether it's a gonfanon, guidon, pennon, pinsel, standard, or corporate/institution/clan/whatever flag is a matter of clarification/categorization by the vexillologists (flag experts).

Since it's a flag, IMHO it should be dipped to respect the U.S. flag (when in the U.S., whether passing the U.S. flag, or being passed by the U.S. flag), and in respect to any honorees (like the chief of the Games). I would think anything off the vertical would be considered 'dipping', with about 45 deg. being the norm. Going fully horizontal is going a bit overboard.

*I'm not going into the historical/legal discussion here, it's been done to death elsewhere.