# Flags at half staff

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/flags-at-half-staff/141278>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [December 8, 2002, 7:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/flags-at-half-staff/141278 "2002-12-08T07:13:06Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 5\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![dauerbach](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/c2a13f/32.png) [@dauerbach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dauerbach)\
**Post date:** [December 8, 2002, 7:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/flags-at-half-staff/141278/1 "2002-12-08T07:13:06Z")

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There is said to be only 5 locations where the flag never flies at half staff. I can only remember four of them. Anyone have any ideas?

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**Author:** ![brachyrhynchos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/brachyrhynchos/32/376_2.png) [@brachyrhynchos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/brachyrhynchos)\
**Post date:** [December 8, 2002, 7:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/flags-at-half-staff/141278/2 "2002-12-08T07:51:34Z")

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The places are: the one depicted on the back of the $10 bill, two on the back of the $20 bill, one on the back of the $50 bill, and the one on the moon.

Actual physical earthbound flags have no restrictions, according to the [Federal Code.](http://www.bcpl.net/~etowner/flagcode.html)

The flag is always flown at half-mast at Arlington National Cemetary, the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, and Pearl Harbor (USS Arizona).

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**Author:** ![trader\_of\_shots](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/aeb1de/32.png) [@trader\_of\_shots](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/trader_of_shots)\
**Post date:** [December 8, 2002, 12:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/flags-at-half-staff/141278/3 "2002-12-08T12:38:28Z")

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Sorry to point out silly things but … if those four Notes (bills) are right …then any statue or picture …(say the one with the ww2 soldiers raising the yank flag … some pacific island) then that is valid also yeah ?

Thought the moon one was a good answer though.

/pedant

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**Author:** ![brachyrhynchos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/brachyrhynchos/32/376_2.png) [@brachyrhynchos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/brachyrhynchos)\
**Post date:** [December 8, 2002, 1:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/flags-at-half-staff/141278/4 "2002-12-08T13:38:12Z")

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Ooooh, you’re right, **trader**. (That was the answer I remembered that particular question.)

/d’oh!

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**Author:** ![Santos\_L\_Halper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/santos_l_halper/32/1_2.png) [@Santos\_L\_Halper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Santos_L_Halper)\
**Post date:** [December 8, 2002, 11:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/flags-at-half-staff/141278/5 "2002-12-08T23:22:51Z")

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Yeah, but there are **six** on the moon:

[Apollo 11](http://lsda.jsc.nasa.gov/APOLLO/A11Flag.html)  
[Apollo 12](http://grin.hq.nasa.gov/IMAGES/SMALL/GPN-2000-001104.jpg)  
[Apollo 14](http://images.jsc.nasa.gov/images/pao/AS14/10075609.jpg)  
[Apollo 15](http://web.mit.edu/newsoffice/tt/2001/jun06/nasascott.jpg)  
[Apollo 16](http://www.jsc.nasa.gov/steckler/grafx/Apollo16.jpg)  
[Apollo 17](http://www.nationalaviation.org/archive/cernan/apollo17_saluting_flag.jpg)

Eric