what does it mean if ?

Question

A flag is at half staff ? Or halfway down the pole ? I was wondering and really don't know why ?

How long do we mourn a President for ?

Answer 1

It means that someone has passed away. Right now the nation is in mourning because of President Ford.

Half-staff or half-mast describes a flag flying approximately halfway up a flagpole or ship's mast (though anywhere from one-third to two-thirds of the way up is acceptable). This is done in many countries as a symbol of respect, mourning, or distress.

When hoisting a flag that is to be displayed at half-staff, it should be hoisted to full staff for an instant, then lowered to half-staff. Likewise when it is lowered at the end of the day, it is to be hoisted to full staff for an instant, and then lowered.

The original flag 'etiquette' was to fly the flag at one flag's depth from the top of the hoist. With larger flags on shorter hoists on many public buildings, the practice of 'half-staff' became common. It is now standard to fly the flag at true 'half-staff' regardless of the size of the flag or hoist.

The terms half-staff and half-mast are synonymous in literal meaning, though "half-mast" should be used only when referring to flags flown on ships and at Naval stations ashore. Elsewhere ashore, "half-staff" should be used. Usage may vary with language community (e.g., Canadian vs. British vs. U.S. English).

United States

The United States flag flying at half-staff at sunset.In the United States, the President can issue an Executive Order for the Flag of the United States to be flown at half-staff upon the death of principal figures of the United States government, and others, as a mark of respect to their memory. When such an order is issued, all government buildings, offices, public schools and military bases are to fly their flags at half-staff. Under federal law (4 U.S.C. 7(f)), the flags of states, cities, localities, and pennants of societies, shall never be placed above the Flag of the United States; thus, all other flags also fly at half-staff when the U.S. flag has been ordered to fly at half-staff.

Governors of the several U.S. States or territories are authorized by federal law to order all U.S. and State flags in their jurisdiction flown at half-staff as a mark of respect for a state official or resident who has died. Since a Governor's Executive Order affects only his or her State, not the entire country, these orders are distinguished from Presidential proclamations.

U.S. Code provides that the Flag of the United States is to be flown at half-staff in following circumstances:

For thirty days after the death of a current or former President.
For ten days after the death of a current Vice-President, Chief Justice, or 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
On the day of death and the following day for a Member of Congress- i.e. a Senator, a Representative, a Delegate, or the Resident Commissioner from Puerto Rico.
On Memorial Day until noon
Upon presidential proclamation, which have included: the remembrance of the 9/11 attacks, the death of Pope John Paul II, the Space Shuttle Columbia disaster in 2003, the victims of Hurricane Katrina, the Indian Ocean tsunami, and the death of Coretta Scott King
US federal law requires the flag be flown at half-staff on Peace Officers Memorial Day (May 15), unless that day is also Armed Forces Day. Yearly presidential proclamations also mandate that the flag be flown at half-staff on Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day (December 7) and National Korean War Veterans Armistice Day (July 27, September 11 (Patriot Day) may also have the flag flown at half-staff.

The Flag of the United States may only properly be flown at half-staff pursuant to a provision of federal law, a Presidential proclamation, or a Gubernatorial proclamation in the state concerned. Under any other circumstance, the Flag of the United States is supposed to be flown at full-staff.

The exceptions to these rules are of course the US flags residing on the surface of the moon

Answer 2

That the nation is in a state of mourning. A good example is that flags were flown at half staff when President Ford died.

Answer 3

Mainly it's a sign of respect for multiple things.

Most recently nationwide, it would have been half-mast for President Ford's death. Some also flew it at half-mast for the tsunami victims in the last couple of years.

Answer 4

It's to honor someone who has died. Right now they are at half staff because former President Gerald Ford passed away.

Answer 5

It is a mark of respect usually to mourn someone who has died

Answer 6

it means someone important to whomever has the flag at half mast died

Answer 7

the country is in mourning.

Answer 8

something sad just occured, like a death of a famous person or disaster

Answer 9

to honor a political person who's died...i think...

Answer 10

Somebody died