How and When Are You Supposed to Fly the American Flag at Half-Staff?
The American flag is an iconic symbol representing this country's values, principles, and ideals. It serves as a powerful reminder of the "united" nature of these fifty states and all that we accomplish when we work together. As a result, the flag is flown high and proud across the country, often displayed on public buildings, schools, and homes.
There are plenty of flag etiquette rules, including when to fly the flag at half-staff as a gesture of solemn respect and mourning. You've probably glimpsed the tradition in patriotic movies or on Memorial Day, but there are plenty of other holidays when it's raised high—or only halfway.
So when should the flag be flown at half-staff and when should it be flown at full-staff? Well, the answer is not always clear-cut! That's why this article dives into the rules on when, how, and for how long. By understanding these customs, we can honor the country's past, present, and future while paying tribute to those who made the ultimate sacrifice.
When is the flag flown at half-staff?
This tradition is followed across the country on occasions when there is a national tragedy, such as the death of a president or a major disaster.
The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs offers a broad guideline to help folks remember when to fly the flag at half-staff. "Consider when the whole nation is in mourning," one VA publication reads. "These periods of mourning are proclaimed either by the president of the United States, for national remembrance, or the governor of a state or territory, for local remembrance, in the event of a death of a member or former member of the federal, state or territorial government or judiciary."
Most often, a flag is flown at half-staff to mark:
The death of a government official (president, supreme court justice, etc.), military member, or first responder
A national tragedy or the anniversary, such as 9/11 or a mass shooting
Memorial Day (until noon)
Peace Officer Memorial Day
Patriot Day (9/11)
National Fallen Firefighters Memorial Service
Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day
According to The American Legion, the flag is flown at full-staff on Flag Day, Armed Forces Day, Independence Day, and Labor Day.
How long do you have to leave the flag at half-staff?
Surprisingly, the United States government only issued specific flag guidelines relatively recently! On March 1, 1954, President Dwight Eisenhower issued an official proclamation on the proper times.
Here are the half-staff timing rules and circumstances that apply to federal buildings, grounds, and naval vessels throughout the United States:
The death of the president or a former president: 30 days
The death of the vice president: 10 days
The death of the current (or retired) chief justice of the Supreme Court: 10 days
The death of the speaker of the House of Representatives: 10 days
For many other public servants, including associate justices of the Supreme Court, members of the Cabinet, former vice presidents, and the majority and minority leaders of Congress, the flag will be displayed at half-staff from the day of death until burial.
Flags are flown at half-staff at federal buildings for one day in Washington D.C. (and locally) in the event of the death of a senator, representative, territorial delegate, or resident commissioner from the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico. Governors also receive this honor in their home state, and the flag is kept that way until their burial.
How do you fly a flag at half-staff?
According to the Department of Veterans Affairs, "The flag should be briskly run up to the top of the staff before being lowered slowly to the half-staff position."
The U.S. Flag should always be flown above any other flag. As such, when you fly the flag at half-staff with other flags, they should also be lowered.
What is the difference between half-mast and half-staff?
Though the terms "half-staff" and "half-mast" are technically interchangeable, "half-staff" is the preferred term used in the Flag Code and in Presidential proclamations. Both phrases are used to communicate that the flag should fly half as high as it normally would, but "half-staff" is more appropriate on land when the flag is on a flagpole whereas "half-mast" is better used at sea as it refers to flags on the masts of ships. Either way, they mean the same thing!
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