Memorial Day is a national holiday that carries a deep meaning for veterans.

That is why Coeur d'Alene resident and 26-year Air Force veteran Dusty Rhoads said there is proper etiquette for flying the American flag on Memorial Day.

"Everybody should do it exactly the same," Rhoads said. "For veterans it's ritualistic because there is so much meaning."

At sunrise, known to veterans as reveille, Rhoads said to raise the flag "briskly" then lower it slowly to half-staff. At noon, he said the flag is briskly raised again to full-staff for the remainder of the day. Rhoads said flags are flown at half-staff to honor those who have died, which is why it is important to do so for the first half of the day on Memorial Day, but then it is raised to honor the living veterans as well.

At sunset the flag is slowly lowered and folded 13 times. Rhoads said each fold carries its own meaning. For example, the first fold is a symbol of life and the second fold is for the belief in eternal life. When the final fold is complete, the stars will be uppermost to symbolize America's motto, "In God We Trust."