There’s no greater honor or deeper symbol of a nation’s mourning than lowering flags to half-staff to mark the passing of a dignitary. The earliest example of this gesture in the United States dates back to 1799, following George Washington’s death. The Navy Department ordered its vessels to “wear their colors half-mast high” in his honor.
However, the tradition predates this, going back to 1612, when native Inuits killed English explorer James Hall during an expedition to Greenland. As his exploratory boat returned to the ship, the crew of the Heart’s Ease lowered the flag in a “sign of death,” according to the quartermaster. The death of James Hall is the first known instance of lowering flags to half-mast, where they remained for the journey home to England.
At its core, a flag flown at half-staff signifies shared loss and collective mourning for those loyal to the flag. In today’s world, the focus has shifted less to “Why do we lower flags to half-staff?” and more to ensure it’s done properly and with respect.
Respecting the Tradition
When you fly your flag at half-staff, it must first be hoisted to the peak before being lowered to half-staff. When taking the flag down, it must be raised back to the peak before being fully lowered.
If state, international, or custom flags are displayed alongside the U.S. flag, they should be flown at half-staff or removed when the U.S. flag is at half-staff.
While “half-mast” and “half-staff” are often used interchangeably, there’s a subtle difference. “Half-staff” is the term used in the United States Flag Code, while “half-mast” is usually used when referring to flags flown on ships.
When to Fly the Flag at Half-Staff
The U.S. Flag Code outlines several occasions when flags should be flown at half-staff:
- By order of the President, as a mark of respect after the death of a significant governmental figure, a foreign dignitary, or other important individuals.
- By proclamation of a governor for the death of a state official, member of the armed forces, or active-duty military personnel from that state.
- The flag should be flown at half-staff for 30 days following the death of a president or former President; 10 days following the death of a vice president, chief justice, retired chief justice, or speaker of the house; from the time of death until the interment of a Supreme Court justice, executive and military department secretaries, or a former vice president or governor; and for a day or two following the death of a member of Congress.
- Flags are flown at half-staff on significant memorial days such as Peace Officers Memorial Day (May 15), Patriot Day (September 11), National Firefighters Memorial Day (a Sunday in October), and Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day (December 7).
- Until noon on Memorial Day, the flag is raised to full-staff.
According to the U.S. Flag Code, the President has the power to change these rules whenever deemed appropriate or necessary.
The Flag Code: A Guide to Respect
The U.S. Flag Code serves as a guide; however, Presidential and gubernatorial proclamations apply to flags flying at government buildings. They do not always extend to flags flown by private individuals or organizations. Still, respect drives both the code and the desire to honor the fallen. After all, you can’t truly honor those who’ve passed without honoring the traditions that unite us all.
There’s a rich history behind the simple act of flying a flag at half-staff. At A Stars & Stripes Flag Corporation, we’ve spent over 45 years learning this history and providing American-made US flags. If you have any questions, we’re here to help and happy to assist!
