Way back in 1969, I was on a four hour bus trip when I noticed that flags were at half mast. Wow! Somebody important must have died. Without a smart phone, I had no way of finding out until I reached my destination. It turned out to be President Eisenhower.
Today, we might as well leave them at half staff because they lower them for anyone. About a month ago, a USPS flag was at half staff. I asked the clerk, “Who died?” She didn’t know and I never found out. I drove by three flags at half staff yesterday, but I have no idea who died, nor do I care anymore.
I saw one yesterday as well. I assumed it was for the sailors on the USS Fitzgerald, but i was in the Boston Seaport District at the time, so I may have just had ships on my mind.
I too have noticed the honor inflation and I’m not entirely thrilled with it. Massachusetts is currently lowering the flag for a state representative named Gailanne Cariddi for four days. Four days for a state representative seems excessive when sitting US senators and representatives traditionally get only two days. You can follow the latest federal sand state flag-lowering alerts here: https://www.flagsexpress.com/HalfStaff_s/1852.htm
This is another site that explains why flags in particular states are at half-staff.
That is an unfortunate domain name. 
I’m sure half-staff is an important topic to be addressed by the Flag Sex Press.
I like the term “honor inflation.” It’s causing problems now. Arlington National Cemetery is running out of room, and yet many elected officials are being buried there without ever having served a day in the military.
If you are selected government officials, you can be interred at Arlington without having served in the military. Specifically, 5 U.S.C. 5312 and 5 U.S.C. 5313.