Flags to fly at half-staff across Florida. Here are the people being honored
Flags across the United States will be flown at half-staff Wednesday, May 15 for Peace Officers Memorial Day.
"On Peace Officers Memorial Day and during Police Week, let us show our gratitude for all the women and men of our Nation’s law enforcement community, who make extraordinary sacrifices every day," President Joe Biden said in a proclamation released Friday.
"Let us honor the memory of those who have fallen in service to their fellow Americans. Let us recommit to supporting the people in uniform and their families, who ensure the safety of our communities all across the Nation."
Police Week was set for May 12 through May 18.
What is Peace Officers Memorial Day, Police Week?
"National Police Week pays special recognition to law enforcement officers who have lost their lives in the line of duty for the safety and protection of others," according to National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund.
In 1962, President John F. Kennedy proclaimed May 15 at National Peace Officers Memorial Day and the calendar week in which May 15 falls, as National Police Week.
"It is important that people throughout our country know and understand the problems, duties, and responsibilities of their police departments and that members of our law enforcement agencies recognize their duty to serve the people by safeguarding life and property, by protecting them against violence or disorder, and by protecting the innocent against deception and the weak against oppression or intimidation," Kennedy said in the 1962 proclamation.
"National Police Week offers honor, remembrance, and peer support, while allowing law enforcement, survivors, and citizens to gather and pay homage to those who gave their lives in the line of duty," PoliceWeek.org said.
What did President Biden say about Police Officer Week?
"Every day, police officers pin on their shields and walk out the door, rushing into harm’s way to keep the rest of us safe. Being a police officer is more than what they do — it is who they are," Biden said.
"On Peace Officers Memorial Day and during Police Week, we recognize the incredible courage of our nation’s police officers and honor the fallen heroes, whose ultimate sacrifice we can never repay."
Florida trooper among 58 killed in line of duty in 2024
There have been 58 deaths of police officers in the line of duty so far in 2024, according to the Officer Down Memorial Page. One off the officers served in Florida: Florida Highway Patrol Trooper Zachary Fink.
Fink, 26, died Feb. 2 while pursuing a white Kia northbound on Interstate 95 in St. Lucie County. The driver had entered the southbound lanes and begun traveling the wrong way on the highway.
When Fink followed the Kia and made a U-turn, he was struck by a semitrailer truck. Fink was transported to HCA Florida Lawnwood Hospital, where he died from his injuries.
The truck driver died at the scene.
Also killed in Florida was K-9 Leo with the Marion County Sheriff's Office. The dog was killed by gunfire.
Total line of duty deaths in 2024 across the US
According to the Officer Down Memorial Page, the breakdown of deaths of officers as of May 13 in the U.S. is:
Most officer deaths by state in US
New York: 5
Georgia: 4
North Carolina: 4
Tennessee: 4
Texas: 4
US government: 4
Illinois: 3
Is it half-mast or half-staff?
On ships and at naval stations ashore, flags are flown at half-mast.
On shore, flags are flown at half-staff.
What is the difference between half-mast and half-staff?
Typically the difference between the two is where the flag is being flown.
Half-mast refers to flags flown on ships, while half-staff is used for flags flown on land, at least in the U.S. In Canada and Britain, even flags flown on land are referred to being at half-mast, according to federalflags.com.
Why are flags flown at half-staff or half-mast?
Flying the flag at half-staff is a "solemn and widely recognized gesture that signifies mourning, respect, or remembrance," according to federalflags.com.
"The concept of lowering flags as a symbol of mourning or distress has its origins in naval customs."
The decision to have the flag flown at half-staff can be made only by the president or a state's governor.
How do you fly your flag correctly at half-staff?
Raise the flag all the way to the top of the flagpole.
Then lower it a third of the way down from the top of the flagpole.
When are flags flown at half-staff?
"The American flag is flown at half-staff or half-mast when the country or state is in mourning, according to USA.gov.
In most cases, an American flag flies at half-staff during one of three occasions:
The death of a government official, military member, or emergency first responder.
A national tragedy.
Memorial Day or another national day of remembrance.
Days when the flag always flies at half-staff and when those dates are in 2024 are:
National Fallen Firefighters Memorial Service, May 5, 2024
Peace Officer Memorial Day, May 15, 2024
Memorial Day, May 27, 2024
Patriot Day, Sept. 11, 2024
Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day, Dec. 7, 2024
This article originally appeared on Treasure Coast Newspapers: Flags to fly at half-staff May 15 to honor police officers killed duty
