Why We Fly The US Flag at Half Staff

Published 12:58 pm Wednesday, September 27, 2023

On Patriot’s Day, you may have noticed many flags flying partway down the flagpole. On U.S. soil this is called half-staff and signifies mourning. On a ship it’s called half-mast and has the same meaning.

Usually the President, a state governor, or the mayor of the District of Columbia can order flags to fly at half-staff to mark the death of a government official, military member, or first responder. It may also mark a national tragedy like 9/11, or a national day of remembrance like Memorial Day.

If you’d like to fly your flag at half-staff, first raise the flag to its full height then lower “one flag height” from the top of the pole. When the period of mourning expires, the flag should be re-raised to its full height briefly before being lowered for the day.

Our Flag is more than just decoration. It is a symbol of freedom and liberty and Americans pledge allegiance to it. The red and white stripes symbolize the 13 original colonies and the 50 white stars represent the 50 States. Some of us remember when the 49th and 50th stars were added, representing Alaska and Hawaii.

There are guidelines for displaying Old Glory. For instance, it should be flown only from sunrise to sunset unless it’s illuminated during hours of darkness.

Elmer’s Flag and Banner, Kites Too! has U.S. flags in every size and material available and can help you with when and how to fly it. Do you need a pole for your flag? Elmer’s can help with that, too. Stop in today!