# Flags at half staff: US only or all flags? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [September 17, 2001, 5:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/flags-at-half-staff-us-only-or-all-flags/82192 "2001-09-17T17:04:21Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 6\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![caircair](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/91b2a8/32.png) [@caircair](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/caircair)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2001, 5:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/flags-at-half-staff-us-only-or-all-flags/82192/1 "2001-09-17T17:04:21Z")
While going through downtown Seattle, I’ve noticed various places with numerous flagpoles out front. Mostly, all the flags are at half staff, but there are a few places where only the US flag is at half staff, the rest are still flying at the top of the pole. Example: There are three flagpoles. The US flag is at half staff, the Washington State flag and the company flag are both flying at the top. My question: What is the proper ettiquete on this? I was always under the impression that once the US flag is to be at half staff, ALL flags should be at half staff. Especially since, if it’s a single pole with multiple flags, all the flags would have to be lowered since the US flag is traditionally the top flag. Has anyone else seen something like this, where only the US flag is lowered? ---
**Author:** ![Sofa\_King](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/58956e/32.png) [@Sofa\_King](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sofa_King)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2001, 6:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/flags-at-half-staff-us-only-or-all-flags/82192/2 "2001-09-17T18:01:18Z")
I don’t think having other flags flown at full height is allowed: “When the flags are flown from adjacent staffs, the flag of the United States should be hoisted first and lowered last. No such flag or pennant may be placed above the flag of the United States or to the United States flag’s right.” From [Flag Etiquette](http://www.niceflag.com/etiquett.htm). I see no exceptions for half-mast displays. ---
**Author:** ![friedo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/8edcca/32.png) [@friedo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/friedo)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2001, 6:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/flags-at-half-staff-us-only-or-all-flags/82192/3 "2001-09-17T18:19:16Z")
It is proper etiquette that now flag ever be higher than the US flag. Thus all flags should be at half-staff if you’re putting the US flag there. Also, the other flags (state, company, etc) must be lowered FIRST so that the US flag is never lower than the other ones. (Post-preview: What **Sofa King** said) ---
**Author:** ![Northern\_Piper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/northern_piper/32/5304_2.png) [@Northern\_Piper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Northern_Piper)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2001, 3:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/flags-at-half-staff-us-only-or-all-flags/82192/4 "2001-09-18T03:30:17Z")
Search engine is our friend: [United Nations and Non-U.S. Flags…](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?threadid=87238) ---
**Author:** ![owlstretchingtime](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/958977/32.png) [@owlstretchingtime](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/owlstretchingtime)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2001, 10:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/flags-at-half-staff-us-only-or-all-flags/82192/5 "2001-09-18T10:33:37Z")
All flags here in the UK have been at half mast. THe only one that isn’t is the royal standard (and that’s because it symbolises something completly different and is NEVER flown at half mast) ---
**Author:** ![LinoleumInnocence](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/f9ae1b/32.png) [@LinoleumInnocence](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LinoleumInnocence)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2001, 10:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/flags-at-half-staff-us-only-or-all-flags/82192/6 "2001-09-18T10:44:23Z")
Here in Australia our flag is being flown at half mast on the Sydney Harbout Bridge (I won’t mention any others because I haven’t really noticed). But a friend of mine commented that he didn’t think that the flag should be lowered for any reason. That was an opinion, not ettiquette. Li