# Flag at half mast used to mean something **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [March 15, 2011, 8:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/flag-at-half-mast-used-to-mean-something/574833 "2011-03-15T20:59:24Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 3\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![Susanann](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/7ab992/32.png) [@Susanann](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Susanann)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2011, 1:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/flag-at-half-mast-used-to-mean-something/574833/61 "2011-03-20T13:41:53Z")
> [@MsWhatsit](#): > > Sensible. Like, say, the last remaining veteran of one of our great wars. Certainly appropriate for that! ---
**Author:** ![BobLibDem](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/boblibdem/32/3149_2.png) [@BobLibDem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BobLibDem)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2011, 12:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/flag-at-half-mast-used-to-mean-something/574833/62 "2011-03-22T00:48:09Z")
Back to the gist of the OP, I think it’s well taken. Every single time a soldier dies, the flag is lowered. If we had done this during any of the major wars, the flag would be continuously at half staff. I think it cheapens it, the lowering should be reserved for more major events. ---
**Author:** ![bartleby](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bartleby/32/10491_2.png) [@bartleby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bartleby)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2011, 1:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/flag-at-half-mast-used-to-mean-something/574833/63 "2011-03-22T13:57:57Z")
How about the fact that the local fire station was draped in black crepe and had the flag at half staff when that worst of national tragedies happened… Dale Earhart biting it? that blew my mind… [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/flag-at-half-mast-used-to-mean-something/574833.md?page=3)