Does it actually say in a regulation that you cannot use flag spreaders?

SGT Jim Arnold - The flag should always be permitted to fall freely. (An exception was made during the Apollo moon landings when the flag hung from a vertical pole designed with an extensible horizontal bar, allowing full display even in the absence of an atmosphere.""

Where No Flag Has Gone Before:
Political and Technical Aspects of Placing a Flag on the Moon
https://www.hq.nasa.gov/alsj/alsj-usflag.html

SGM Erik Marquez - I've never heard of flag spreaders. I thought the flag was manipulated in a way since there was no real gravity or atmosphere to make it stand up on the moon

SGT Jim Arnold - SGM Erik Marquez I think there is some sort of waiver for being on the ground also. One of the Apollo flags was blown over when the astronauts took off. Also allowing them to spend half their time in darkness and not being illuminated. Special rules for the moon. If we ever go back and are close enough someone needs to stand that one flag back up.

Thanks for the response. That’s the only conclusion I came to. I found that in 840-10 and it’s what I went with.

At work we are being asked to take a picture with colors on spreaders, just in case we are killed in the line of duty. I would not want my picture being shown with my colors being disrespected