# US flag at half-mast: who orders? how? where mandatory? what reasons? "mourning" symbol only? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [October 27, 2015, 4:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/us-flag-at-half-mast-who-orders-how-where-mandatory-what-reasons-mourning-symbol-only/735845 "2015-10-27T04:19:27Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Leo\_Bloom](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leo_bloom/32/10377_2.png) [@Leo\_Bloom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leo_Bloom)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2015, 4:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/us-flag-at-half-mast-who-orders-how-where-mandatory-what-reasons-mourning-symbol-only/735845/1 "2015-10-27T04:19:27Z")
This morning I noticed the U.S. flag at half mast in my housing project. That used to rattle me–I associate it for some reason only with a Presidential assisination. I figured whoever hoisted it had done a half-assed job, and called the rental office, who said the flags are handled by our hired Security guys. When I called he said it was on purpose because a New York policeman was killed in the line of duty, and would stay at half mast until his burial in two days. So, the Mayor ordered it? Can someone below him? How does the word get out–in our case, if was not mandatory, but because our Security, as well as many tenants, are ex or current cops, so they simply did it on their own? But by other public offices, does someone phone up each one or something? Does the custom come from ships? Any other customs like that–I was told, I think, that a flag flown upside down means “distress” or something…God forbid the U.S. Flag would be so positioned, but would it ever? Do the colors of a military unit fly at half mast when one of its soldiers is killed? I can see that, sadly, becoming impractical sometimes. ---
**Author:** ![UDS](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/ecae2f/32.png) [@UDS](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/UDS)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2015, 5:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/us-flag-at-half-mast-who-orders-how-where-mandatory-what-reasons-mourning-symbol-only/735845/2 "2015-10-27T05:17:06Z")
The US flag code has, I think, been adopted as a law of the United States, but “for the use of” civilians and agencies who are not subject to executive regulations. So I think it amounts to legally-recommended practice, rather than enforceable obligation. There is no sanction for not observing the flag code. Under the flag code, the national flag should be flown at half-staff - on Memorial day, until noon - for 30 days after the death of a President or former President (n.b. that’s “death”, not “assassination”) - for 10 days after the death of the Vice-President, the Chief Justice, the Speaker of the House or a former Chief Justice - from death until interment for a bunch of other officials (not including state police officers) - on the day of death and the following day, for a member of Congress - as ordered by the President, on the death “principal figures of the United States Government and the Governor of a State, territory, or possession” - as instructed or ordered by the President, on the death of other officials or foreign dignitaries - as proclaimed by the Governor, on the death of a present or former official of the government of a State, territory, or possession. I don’t think there’s an explicit requirement _not_ to fly the flag at half-staff except when appropriate per the code, so you could argue that as long as you fly it at half-mast on the occasions listed, you can fly it at half-mast on other occasions to mourn the death of a police officer, your Great Auntie Bessie or your hamster, and there is no breach of the code. The flag code doesn’t regulate the display of flags other than the national flag (except to say that the national flag should have priority in display). If it’s a state flag, there may or may not be state laws or codes regulating this. If it’s your personal standard, fly it how you like. The code provides for the flag to be dispayed upside-down as “a signal of dire distress in instances of extreme danger to life or property”. ---
**Author:** ![Monty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/monty/32/47_2.png) [@Monty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Monty)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2015, 10:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/us-flag-at-half-mast-who-orders-how-where-mandatory-what-reasons-mourning-symbol-only/735845/3 "2015-10-27T10:55:35Z")
FYI: Masts are on ships; staffs are ashore. Half-mast is the term used for flying the flag lower than usual aboard a ship. On land, the term is half-staff. ---
**Author:** ![Bullitt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bullitt/32/5725_2.png) [@Bullitt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bullitt)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2015, 11:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/us-flag-at-half-mast-who-orders-how-where-mandatory-what-reasons-mourning-symbol-only/735845/4 "2015-10-27T11:52:59Z")
> [@Monty](#): > > FYI: Masts are on ships; staffs are ashore. Half-mast is the term used for flying the flag lower than usual aboard a ship. On land, the term is half-staff. The US Flag Code speaks to half-staff. It does not use the term half-mast. ---
**Author:** ![Leo\_Bloom](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leo_bloom/32/10377_2.png) [@Leo\_Bloom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leo_Bloom)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2015, 1:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/us-flag-at-half-mast-who-orders-how-where-mandatory-what-reasons-mourning-symbol-only/735845/5 "2015-10-27T13:59:30Z")
> [@UDS](#): > > The US flag code has, I think, been adopted as a law of the United States, but “for the use of” civilians and agencies who are not subject to executive regulations. So I think it amounts to legally-recommended practice, rather than enforceable obligation. There is no sanction for not observing the flag code. > [snip] Thank you. I didn’t know there was such a thing as a Flag Code. I went to this rich site, which is about the U.S. flag exclusively: [USFlag.org: A website dedicated to the Flag of the United States of America - United States Code](http://www.usflag.org/uscode36.html). ETA: this brings back early memories of summer camp, where we learned to fold the flag (which was way too difficult for me at that age) and to never ever let it touch the ground, an event I contemplated as something awesome and Bad. The proscription is similar with the Torah scroll, BTW.But that thing is _heavy_. ---
**Author:** ![Bullitt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bullitt/32/5725_2.png) [@Bullitt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bullitt)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2015, 2:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/us-flag-at-half-mast-who-orders-how-where-mandatory-what-reasons-mourning-symbol-only/735845/6 "2015-10-27T14:53:07Z")
> [@Leo\_Bloom](#): > > Thank you. I didn’t know there was such a thing as a Flag Code. I went to this rich site, which is about the U.S. flag exclusively: [USFlag.org: A website dedicated to the Flag of the United States of America - United States Code](http://www.usflag.org/uscode36.html). > ETA: this brings back early memories of summer camp, where we learned to fold the flag (which was way too difficult for me at that age) and to never ever let it touch the ground, an event I contemplated as something awesome and Bad. > > The proscription is similar with the Torah scroll, BTW.But that thing is _heavy_. Your memories stirred mine of the Boy Scouts and first learning to render respect to our flag, and remembering those times when reading some of the Flag Code as a young military man. I remember surprise in learning the proper way to dispose of a flag no longer suitable for display (faded, worn, etc) is to _ **burn** _ it - in a dignified way, but yes, burn it. It makes sense because we never want to see Old Glory in the trash bin. ---
**Author:** ![Ranger\_Jeff](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ranger_jeff/32/2065_2.png) [@Ranger\_Jeff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ranger_Jeff)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2015, 3:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/us-flag-at-half-mast-who-orders-how-where-mandatory-what-reasons-mourning-symbol-only/735845/7 "2015-10-27T15:29:33Z")
My father owned a news store in an unincorporated town. The store was across the street and a block away from the volunteer fire house. The week my father died, I saw the flag at the fire house had been lowered to half-staff. I thought that was a nice thing for them to do. I walked over to see what they had put on the black felt plate with the movable white plastic letters under glass. Where I read they had lowered the flag in memoriam of the fire house’s dog. ---
**Author:** ![Dr.Drake](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ad7895/32.png) [@Dr.Drake](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr.Drake)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2015, 3:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/us-flag-at-half-mast-who-orders-how-where-mandatory-what-reasons-mourning-symbol-only/735845/8 "2015-10-27T15:37:19Z")
Is all of this flag protocol taken for granted as normal? Do any Christian groups brand the rigorous and complex devotions to the US flag as idolatry, or does anyone complain that the flag veneration is excessive (or insufficient)? Since being forced\* to say the pledge daily for the years of my childhood, I’ve developed rather a dislike to the flag, though I readily admit it’s not the flag’s fault. \*I know that, in theory, we weren’t “forced,” but in practice we were. ---
**Author:** ![lance\_strongarm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/87869e/32.png) [@lance\_strongarm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lance_strongarm)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2015, 3:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/us-flag-at-half-mast-who-orders-how-where-mandatory-what-reasons-mourning-symbol-only/735845/9 "2015-10-27T15:54:52Z")
Not to denigrate the dead, but there’s a potential for “flag inflation” here, if it hasn’t happened already. Someone yell’s “why haven’t you lowered the flag for (insert latest dead person here even though flags aren’t normally lowered for people like them)? Have you no shame?” and the flag gets lowered. ---
**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:** [October 27, 2015, 4:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/us-flag-at-half-mast-who-orders-how-where-mandatory-what-reasons-mourning-symbol-only/735845/10 "2015-10-27T16:08:39Z")
> [@Monty](#): > > FYI: Masts are on ships; staffs are ashore. Half-mast is the term used for flying the flag lower than usual aboard a ship. On land, the term is half-staff. There are terminology differences between countries. While this is the terminology in the US, in Canada, the term half-mast is used regardless of whether it’s on land or sea. ---
**Author:** ![suranyi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e36b37/32.png) [@suranyi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/suranyi)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2015, 5:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/us-flag-at-half-mast-who-orders-how-where-mandatory-what-reasons-mourning-symbol-only/735845/11 "2015-10-27T17:41:13Z")
The flag at my college was lowered to half-staff whenever someone prominent at the college died, e.g. a trustee. ---
**Author:** ![Omar\_Little](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/omar_little/32/269_2.png) [@Omar\_Little](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Omar_Little)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2015, 6:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/us-flag-at-half-mast-who-orders-how-where-mandatory-what-reasons-mourning-symbol-only/735845/12 "2015-10-27T18:28:33Z")
The owner of the flag staff can decide when and if and how they fly their flags. ---
**Author:** ![Kenm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/bc79bd/32.png) [@Kenm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kenm)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2015, 7:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/us-flag-at-half-mast-who-orders-how-where-mandatory-what-reasons-mourning-symbol-only/735845/13 "2015-10-27T19:00:26Z")
> [@Northern\_Piper](#): > > There are terminology differences between countries. While this is the terminology in the US, in Canada, the term half-mast is used regardless of whether it’s on land or sea. [**Yes**](http://www.cbc.ca/news2/indepth/words/flagflap.html), but there is a raging debate that threatens to tear the country apart as superannuated copy editors hurl deadly dictionaries and style books at each other in Tim Hortons (no apostrophe) from coast to coast to coast. During a pause for refills, [**this history**](http://www.crwflags.com/Fotw/flags/xf-half.html) of the practice may prove interesting. > [@](#): > > In his book ‘Signal’, Captain Barrie Kent writes that in 1952, Buckingham Palace asked the Board of Admiralty for information on the origin of the custom of half-masting colours to signify a death. The Archivist Peter Kemp replied: > > The earliest record we have of the lowering of a flag to signify a death was an occasion in 1612, when the Master of the ‘Hearts Ease’, William Hall, was murdered by Eskimos while taking part in an expedition in search of the North West Passage. On rejoining her consort, the vessel’s flag was flown trailing over the stern as a mark of mourning. On her return to London, the ‘Hearts Ease’ again flew her flag over the stern and it was recognised as an appropriate gesture of mourning. > > It was the habit, after the restoration of the Monarchy in 1660, for ships of the Royal Navy to fly their flags at half-mast on the anniversary of the execution of King Charles I on 30th January 1649, and it is from this custom that, so far as we can trace, the present practice of announcing a death by the flying of a flag at half-mast has evolved. The earlier practice at sea was to fly a black flag or to set a black sail. . . . ---
**Author:** ![Bear\_Nenno](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bear_nenno/32/3358_2.png) [@Bear\_Nenno](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bear_Nenno)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2015, 7:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/us-flag-at-half-mast-who-orders-how-where-mandatory-what-reasons-mourning-symbol-only/735845/14 "2015-10-27T19:07:56Z")
[QUOTE=Leo Bloom] I figured whoever hoisted it had done a half-assed job… [/quote] Ironic, since raising and lowering a flag at half-staff actually require _extra_ effort, not less. If done properly, anyway. To raise it at half-staff, it should be hoisted to the very top and then lowered half way. To retire it at the end of the day, it should be hoisted back to the top, and then lowered all the way down. > [@](#): > > How does the word get out [www.halfstaff.org](http://www.halfstaff.org) allows users to set up e-mail alerts. Anytime the president orders the flag to half-staff, subscribers will get an immediate notification via email. > [@](#): > > But by other public offices, does someone phone up each one or something? Email, mostly. Mass distribution directories. > [@](#): > > Do the colors of a military unit fly at half mast when one of its soldiers is killed? No. ---
**Author:** ![Loach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/loach/32/350_2.png) [@Loach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loach)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2015, 7:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/us-flag-at-half-mast-who-orders-how-where-mandatory-what-reasons-mourning-symbol-only/735845/15 "2015-10-27T19:23:26Z")
> [@Monty](#): > > FYI: Masts are on ships; staffs are ashore. Half-mast is the term used for flying the flag lower than usual aboard a ship. On land, the term is half-staff. Unless you are talking to a Marine. They always use naval terminology even on dry land. > [@](#): > > So, the Mayor ordered it? Can someone below him? How does the word get out–in our case, if was not mandatory, but because our Security, as well as many tenants, are ex or current cops, so they simply did it on their own? But by other public offices, does someone phone up each one or something? Any government executive can order the flags lowered on the buildings they have control over. A presidential order only covers federal buildings. A governor can order flags lowered at government building in his state. Same for a mayor on a smaller scale. The actual order only covers government buildings. If individual citizens or local businesses want to follow or not it is up to them. My current governor Chris Christie has ordered flags on government buildings lowered for every New Jersey soldier combat death as well as every first responder line of duty death. He also lowered it for notable residents like Clarence Clemmons and Whitney Houston. The later is sometimes blamed on Obama “You lowered the flags for a crackhead why didn’t you honor x?” ---
**Author:** ![Phu\_Cat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/77aa72/32.png) [@Phu\_Cat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Phu_Cat)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2015, 8:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/us-flag-at-half-mast-who-orders-how-where-mandatory-what-reasons-mourning-symbol-only/735845/16 "2015-10-27T20:58:06Z")
I was chaplain and patriotism chairman for a little over 24 years in a northern state for a veteran’s organization before retiring to Florida and have been involved in many, many military type ceremonies. Let me make this real easy for those that think lowering the flag to half staff for just anyone is OK. The American flag was never intended to be anyone’s personal grief indicator. To treat it as such is disrespectful to the thousand and thousand of women and men that gave their very lives defending that beloved flag. Some people may feel they bought that flag with their own dollars and they can do with it as they wish. Legally, they are correct. But do you really want to slap the face of a veteran in a wheel chair missing both legs as he salutes that flag, that he’d rather be standing for, as it passes him on Veteran’s Day? I contend the flag you bought was purchased for you at a far greater price than mere dollars. If you need to show respect for a person that dies in your family or your corporation, please use something other than the American flag. I suppose many people use it because they think it’s OK. Well now you know it’s not. Please help spread the word. Make up arm bands the people at your company could wear if the president or a board member dies to show respect or some other such thing. Create a flag for your school that could fly under the American flag and then be lowered down the lanyard to “half staff” to honor such a person. You are only limited by you own imagination. Phu Cat ---
**Author:** ![Omar\_Little](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/omar_little/32/269_2.png) [@Omar\_Little](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Omar_Little)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2015, 9:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/us-flag-at-half-mast-who-orders-how-where-mandatory-what-reasons-mourning-symbol-only/735845/17 "2015-10-27T21:09:59Z")
Phu Cat, that’s all well and good, but the price that was paid for the freedoms we have in our country by those service men and women, give those that bought a flag the right to burn it as well as fly it in the manner as described earlier in this thread. ---
**Author:** ![Ranger\_Jeff](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ranger_jeff/32/2065_2.png) [@Ranger\_Jeff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ranger_Jeff)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2015, 10:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/us-flag-at-half-mast-who-orders-how-where-mandatory-what-reasons-mourning-symbol-only/735845/18 "2015-10-27T22:42:21Z")
Some people interpret the 2nd Commandment differently than others do. Just sayin’. ---
**Author:** ![Loach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/loach/32/350_2.png) [@Loach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loach)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2015, 11:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/us-flag-at-half-mast-who-orders-how-where-mandatory-what-reasons-mourning-symbol-only/735845/19 "2015-10-27T23:30:51Z")
> [@Phu\_Cat](#): > > I was chaplain and patriotism chairman for a little over 24 years in a northern state for a veteran’s organization before retiring to Florida and have been involved in many, many military type ceremonies. > > Let me make this real easy for those that think lowering the flag to half staff for just anyone is OK. The American flag was never intended to be anyone’s personal grief indicator. To treat it as such is disrespectful to the thousand and thousand of women and men that gave their very lives defending that beloved flag. Some people may feel they bought that flag with their own dollars and they can do with it as they wish. Legally, they are correct. But do you really want to slap the face of a veteran in a wheel chair missing both legs as he salutes that flag, that he’d rather be standing for, as it passes him on Veteran’s Day? I contend the flag you bought was purchased for you at a far greater price than mere dollars. If you need to show respect for a person that dies in your family or your corporation, please use something other than the American flag. I suppose many people use it because they think it’s OK. Well now you know it’s not. Please help spread the word. Make up arm bands the people at your company could wear if the president or a board member dies to show respect or some other such thing. Create a flag for your school that could fly under the American flag and then be lowered down the lanyard to “half staff” to honor such a person. You are only limited by you own imagination. > > Phu Cat Except that the flag code expressly allows many times for the flag to be officially lowered. The president can lower it at a whim. This month the president has ordered flags lowered for the shooting victims in Oregon and for the National Fallen Firefighters Memorial Service as part of fire prevention week (a formality since it is in legislation). It has been lowered for Hurricane Katrina, Nelson Mandela, Neil Armstrong… many other people. On the state level it has been lowered for even more reasons and people. It really has nothing to do with veterans. And those orders only effect government buildings. It is up to the individual to be able to express themselves with their property. As a long time veteran I am quite fond on the constitution especially that 1st amendment part. ---
**Author:** ![Bullitt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bullitt/32/5725_2.png) [@Bullitt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bullitt)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2015, 11:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/us-flag-at-half-mast-who-orders-how-where-mandatory-what-reasons-mourning-symbol-only/735845/20 "2015-10-27T23:31:04Z")
Thank you **Phu Cat** for sharing your experience and interpretation as to what should be done. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/us-flag-at-half-mast-who-orders-how-where-mandatory-what-reasons-mourning-symbol-only/735845.md?page=2)