By Dennis Dean Dean Group Media
An American Flag Tradition
The tradition of flying the United States flag at half-staff or half-mast as a sign of mourning for a national figure, hero, fallen warrior or a tragedy is a tradition almost as old as our nation.
The practice began in the United States following the death of George Washington in 1799 when the Navy Department ordered ships to "wear their colors half-mast high.”
George Washington portrait by Gilbert Stuart, 1796
Courtesy: The White House Historical Association
Flags continued to be flown at half-staff or half-mast afterward, including following the assassination of Abraham Lincoln. In 1915 President Woodrow Wilson ordered executive offices closed and flags flown at half-staff to commemorate the 50th anniversary of Lincoln’s death.
The US Flag Code
The US Flag Code began, not as a US Code but as a set of recommendations for respectful display and use of the American flag in 1923. In 1942 the recommendations became US Flag Code signed into law and established by proclamation of President Roosevelt.
On March 1st, 1954, President Dwight D. Eisenhower issued a proclamation establishing rules for half-staff flags, as well as mourning periods for presidents and former presidents.
Pres. Dwight D Eisenhower, official White House photo portrait, July 1956
It should be noted that the US Flag Code and the rules for half-staff flags are not laws. You cannot be arrested for violations.
Protecting the American Flag
Ironically, efforts to protect the flag have been thwarted by interpretations of the very Constitution the flag represents.
Two attempts to criminalize desecration of the flag have failed. Penalties for certain acts were contained in Title 18 of the United States Code prior to 1989, and again in the Flag Protection Act of 1989. Both were struck down by the Supreme Court. In a 5-4 decision in Texas v Johnson (1989) the court held that flag burning was an act of protected speech under the First Amendment. Again in United States v. Eichman (1990) the court voted 5-4 that preserving the flag as a symbol did not outweigh an individual’s First Amendment right to damage or destroy a US flag in protest.
Burning an American Flag
Source: WikiMedia Commons
Flying the American Flag at Half-Staff or Half-Mast?
Half-staff if by land, half-mast if by sea.
Whether to say “half-staff” or “half-mast” depends upon the flag’s location.
Ships and boats have masts, everything else is a staff or flagpole, and therein lies the answer.
“Half-staff” is the correct term when a flag is lowered from a flagpole located on land, whether attached to the ground or a structure.
The U.S. flag is seen flying at half-staff atop the White House
Courtesy: The White House
“Half-mast” is the maritime practice, when flags are flown from the mast or other part of a boat, ship or other marine vessel.
In either case US Flag Code calls for the flag is to be raised to the top of the staff or mast “for an instant,” then lowered to a position halfway between the top and bottom of the staff or mast.
A Deeply Rooted Flag Heritage
America’s flag heritage is deeply rooted. The US flag was elevated to iconic status during the War of 1812 when it’s appearance over Fort McHenry during the Battle for Baltimore inspired Francis Scott Key’s poem “The Star Spangled Banner.”
The flag at the time showed 15 stars. The flag that flew over Fort McHenry was large, measuring 30 by 42 feet. It was sewn by Mary Pickersgill, commissioned in the summer of 1813 by American Major George Armistead who proclaimed it was his desire “...to have a flag so large the British will have no difficulty seeing it from a distance.”
The original flag is kept at the Smithsonian’s National Museum of American History, while a contemporary flag flies over Fort McHenry National Monument and Historic Shrine 24 hours a day, 7 days a week as a reminder of the iconic flag that helped inspire a nation to so honor its flag.
A Show of Respect
Following flag protocol shows national unity and respect. The manner and method of showing respect for the flag is outlined in the US Flag Code, (4 USC Ch. 1: THE FLAG) which details advisory rules and etiquette for display and care of the flag. It describes appropriate use of the flag and behavior with the flag and flag likenesses in a variety of common situations, both civilian and military, including several rules related to half-staff and half-mast display:
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To place the flag at half-staff (or half-mast, on ships), hoist it to the peak for an instant and lower it to a position halfway between the top and bottom of the staff.
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The flag is to be raised again to the peak for a moment before it is lowered.
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On Memorial Day, the flag is displayed at half-staff until noon and at full staff from noon to sunset.
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The flag is to be flown at half-staff in mourning for the death of designated, principal government leaders.
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The flag is to be flown at half-staff for thirty days in mourning for the death of the current or former President of the United States.
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The US flag is otherwise flown at half-staff (or half-mast, on ships) when directed by the President of the United States or a state governor.
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When used to cover a casket or coffin, the flag should be placed with the union at the head and over the left shoulder. It should not be lowered into the grave.
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The US Flag is to be flown half-staff on Patriot Day (Sept. 11)
From 4 USC Ch. 1: THE FLAG
§7. Position and manner of display
(m) The flag, when flown at half-staff, should be first hoisted to the peak for an instant and then lowered to the half-staff position. The flag should be again raised to the peak before it is lowered for the day. On Memorial Day the flag should be displayed at half-staff until noon only, then raised to the top of the staff. By order of the President, the flag shall be flown at half-staff upon the death of principal figures of the United States Government and the Governor of a State, territory, or possession, as a mark of respect to their memory. In the event of the death of other officials or foreign dignitaries, the flag is to be displayed at half-staff according to Presidential instructions or orders, or in accordance with recognized customs or practices not inconsistent with law. In the event of the death of a present or former official of the government of any State, territory, or possession of the United States, the death of a member of the Armed Forces from any State, territory, or possession who dies while serving on active duty, or the death of a first responder working in any State, territory, or possession who dies while serving in the line of duty, the Governor of that State, territory, or possession may proclaim that the National flag shall be flown at half-staff, and the same authority is provided to the Mayor of the District of Columbia with respect to present or former officials of the District of Columbia, members of the Armed Forces from the District of Columbia, and first responders working in the District of Columbia. When the Governor of a State, territory, or possession, or the Mayor of the District of Columbia, issues a proclamation under the preceding sentence that the National flag be flown at half-staff in that State, territory, or possession or in the District of Columbia because of the death of a member of the Armed Forces, the National flag flown at any Federal installation or facility in the area covered by that proclamation shall be flown at half-staff consistent with that proclamation. The flag shall be flown at half-staff 30 days from the death of the President or a former President; 10 days from the day of death of the Vice President, the Chief Justice or a retired Chief Justice of the United States, or the Speaker of the House of Representatives; from the day of death until interment of an Associate Justice of the Supreme Court, a Secretary of an executive or military department, a former Vice President, or the Governor of a State, territory, or possession; and on the day of death and the following day for a Member of Congress. The flag shall be flown at half-staff on Peace Officers Memorial Day, unless that day is also Armed Forces Day. As used in this subsection—
(1) the term "half-staff" means the position of the flag when it is one-half the distance between the top and bottom of the staff;
Knowing When to Fly Half-Staff or Half-Mast
The Definitive Authority for Half-Staff Alerts
The flag may be ordered to half-staff and half-mast by the President of the United States, a state governor or the mayor of the District of Columbia.
In most situations, a half-staff flag marks the death of a government official, military member or first responder, a national tragedy or Memorial Day or another day of national remembrance.
The most complete single source of information regarding half-staff proclamations is American Flags Express, the nation’s premiere source for US Made American flags. Visitors to the company’s website can sign up to receive free Half-Staff Flag Alerts by email and, as an option, by text, for any or all states. All subscribers receive nationwide half-staff alerts.
American Flags Express owner and president Thomas D’Amico began the program after the 9/11 terrorist attack. It has become the most comprehensive and timely publication anywhere of official Gubernatorial and Presidential half-staff proclamations.
The program monitors all 50 states and the White House to provide timely half-staff information, including highlights of each proclamation and frequently a link to the proclamation itself. Current alerts can also be easily checked on the Half-Staff Alerts page of the Flags Express website.
The website has become America’s trusted source for all half-staff information and the only source for US and state half-staff news.
You may subscribe to receive free Half-Staff Flag Alerts here.
Dennis Dean is an Emmy-winning journalist, head of Dean Group Media and an independent writer for American Flags Express News. With a passion for American history and small-town stories, he covers patriotism, flag etiquette, and the people who keep our national traditions alive.