How and when to Display the us Flag at Half Staff
A blur of red, blue, and white hues wave from a distance while we stand below, awed at the sight. As proud American citizens, we use the flag of this great country for nearly every important ceremony in our lives. We pay homage to it, with our right hand resting upon our hearts. We pledge our allegiance to it, and we smile at the symbolic meaning of that old cloth that we affectionately refer to as 'Old Glory'. We see twenty-five foot flag poles in front of state and government buildings, and upon their lands, boasting a brightly colored flag that holds fifty shining white stars. We wear pins on our lapel, donning a miniature version of our symbol of freedom. We sing songs about her, that flag that has seen many battles, and wept with the death of millions of soldiers in her honor. We love the US Flag, but there are many customs, rules, regulations, and symbolic uses of that very flag that many people are unaware of.
Few people are aware of how their US Flag should be stored, or folded, so it would make sense that many do not know what it means when the flag is indeed flown at half staff. A United States Flag is flown at half staff to pay tribute to soldiers, veterans and war heroes, and to mourn the death of a prominent citizen of the government or the military. It may also be flown at half staff to pay respects to a former leader of foreign lands, as well. The Flag Code has an entire section devoted to the terms of when and how the flag shall be displayed at half staff, and for exactly how long of a period of time that it shall remain as such. Section 7m of The Flag Code states; "The flag, when flown at half-staff, should be first hoisted to the peak for an instant and then lowered to the half-staff position. The flag should be again raised to the peak before it is lowered for the day." When the flag is raised to the top of the pole should be done so with the sound of 'Reveille', or a bugle. This, of course is according to custom, and is not an actual law.
There are major holidays, or days of tribute. These are the same days each year, and the President of the US issues a proclamation each year devoted to half staffing the flag. These days are as follows;
~Memorial Day, to pay respect to the military. The flag remains at half staff until noon.
~Peace Officers Memorial day (May 15), when the flag is posted at half staff at sunrise, and remains so all day long, or until sunset.
~National Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day, (December 7). This is to pay respects to all soldiers that fought in WWII, and those that lost their lives on D-Day. The flag is posted at half staff at sunrise, and remains so until sunset.
~Patriot Day (September 11). The flag is posted at half staff at sunrise, and until sunset.
If you are privy to witness the flag being flown at half staff on any other day besides the above, it means that the President ordered it so because of a death. The Flag Code states that; "By order of the President, the flag shall be flown at half-staff upon the death of principal figures of the United States Government and the Governor of a State, territory, or possession, as a mark of respect to their memory." Upon the death of the President, or any former President, the flag shall be flown at half staff for thirty days. For the Vice President (former or present), the Speaker of the House, or any Chief Justice's (past or present), the flag shall remain lowered for ten days. Upon the death of any other government or military official, the flag shall remain at half staff for the entire day.
All goverment as well as military establishments display their flags at half staff on all of these occasions. Civilians are encouraged to do so, as well, but again, it is not a law, nor is it enforced. Before the flag is flown at half staff it is first raised completely momentarily before being stilled in the middle of the flagpole. Just the same, it is raised once again from half staff before it is completely lowered or removed. The Flag should be flown every day, and especially on holidays. The United States flag is of great importance, and is meant to be revered as it is a symbol of our freedom, and the fights that Americans sustained to gain it.
cited;http://www.ushistory.org/betsy/flagetiq.htmlhttp://www.americanflagstore.com/etiquette/etiquette.htm
