When Should The National Flag Be Flown At Half Mast?

by | Last updated on January 24, 2024

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The United States flag flies at half-staff (or half-mast)

when the nation or a state is in mourning

. The president, through a presidential proclamation, a state governor, or the mayor of the District of Columbia can order flags to fly at half-staff.

When should the flag be flown at half-staff?

Section 7m of the Flag Code authorizes a governor to half-staff the US flag

upon the death of a present or former official of the government of the state

, or the death of a member of the Armed Forces from that state who dies while serving on active duty.

What is the rule for flying the flag at half-staff?

The flag should fly at half-staff

for 30 days

at all federal buildings, grounds, and naval vessels throughout the United States and its territories and possessions after the death of the president or a former president.

Why is the flag at half-mast today 2021?

As

a mark of respect for the victims of the senseless acts of violence perpetrated on

May 26, 2021, in San Jose, California, by the authority vested in me as President of the United States by the Constitution and the laws of the United States of America, I hereby order that the flag of the United States shall be flown …

When should the American flag be flown in 2021?

January 1 New Year’s Day May 31 (half-staff to noon) Memorial Day June 6 Remember D-Day
June 14

Army Birthday
June 14 Flag Day

What are 3 things you should never do to the flag?

The

flag should never touch anything beneath it

, such as the ground, the floor, water, or merchandise. The flag should never be carried flat or horizontally, but always aloft and free. The flag should never be fastened, displayed, used, or stored so that it might be easily torn, soiled, or damaged in any way.

What is the only flag that can be flown above the US flag?

No. The Flag Code said no other flag or pennant should be placed above or, if on the same level, to the right of the U.S. flag, except

during church services conducted by naval chaplains at sea

, when the church pennant may be flown above the flag during church services for the personnel of the Navy.

Can I fly my flag at half-mast?

Half-mast means the flag is flown two-thirds of the way up the flagpole, with at least the height of the flag between the top of the flag and the top of the flagpole. …

Flags of foreign nations should not be flown

, unless their country is also observing mourning. The Royal Standard never flies at half-mast.

What is the difference between half-staff and half-mast?

Half-mast is reserved primarily for ships when flags fly halfway during times of distress or mourning. According to the U.S. Flag Code, half-staff is largely an American English term where it distinguishes the position and manner of display on a flagpole as half-staff, or

midway between the summit and bottom

.

Are you supposed to take the flag down when it rains?

Should the American flag be taken down during a rain storm? … The flag should not be displayed on days when the weather is inclement,

except when an all-weather flag is displayed

.

Why are the flags at half-mast today in Texas?

Governor Greg Abbott today ordered Texas flags across the state to be lowered to

half-staff to honor the U.S. service members who lost their lives during an attack at the airport

yesterday in Kabul, Afghanistan.

Why are flags at half-mast today in NC?

Governor Roy Cooper today ordered all United States and North Carolina flags at state facilities to be lowered to half-staff beginning today, August 18, 2021 until sunset Thursday, August 19, 2021 in honor of Mount Gilead Police Officer Craig Cloninger who passed away over the weekend while responding to a house fire.

Why are flags at half-mast today Illinois?

Flags at State buildings will be lowered from sunrise Wednesday to sunset Thursday in

honor of a Chicago police officer

. Illinois governor J.B. Pritzker issued a notice ordering flags to be lowered to half-staff on Wednesday and Thursday in honor of a fallen police officer.

Why would someone fly a flag upside down?

A

signal of distress

. For hundreds of years, inverted flags have been harnessed as a signal of distress. … The United States Flag Code expresses the idea concisely, stating that a flag should never be flown upside-down, “except as a signal of dire distress in instances of extreme danger to life or property.”

Can the American flag be flown at night without a light?

In the case of the American flag,

yes, it is illegal

. The US Flag Code states that it is illegal to fly the US flag at night without adequate light. The American flag code is part of federal law. … The Federal code has no penalty inclusions for infringements of the code, but state laws certainly do.

Is it legal to fly the American flag upside down?

While it is legal to express yourself in whatever way you so choose, it is disrespectful to fly an

American flag upside down unless in a life or death situation

. … (a) The flag should never be displayed with the union down, except as a signal of dire distress in instances of extreme danger to life or property.

Jasmine Sibley
Author
Jasmine Sibley
Jasmine is a DIY enthusiast with a passion for crafting and design. She has written several blog posts on crafting and has been featured in various DIY websites. Jasmine's expertise in sewing, knitting, and woodworking will help you create beautiful and unique projects.