When do you know, or how to do find out, when to fly the American Flag at half mass?

Question

When do you know, or how to do find out, when to fly the American Flag at half mass. Is there a website to go to? How do you find this information out?

Answer 1

I know a lot about flag etiquette and I was wondering that myself (yesterday was the last day it was suppose to be at half mast nationally). I knew it in this case because it is flown at half mast for 30 days when a President or former President dies. There are also specific time periods for other officials. Also the President can direct a period to honor an individual of national significance (Rosa Parks for example) and Governors can direct it to be done in their states for individuals of significance to that state (National Guard members killed in action or a fallen police officer or fire fighter). But I don't know of a clearinghouse to go and find out. I think it's just a custom in most cases. I am glad that people are interested. It's OUR flag and it should be used to honor those who deserve it (I like when I don't know why it is at half mast, that means it is probably honoring a regular person, although I'm sad they died). When I see it at a fire station or county office, I ask, they usually know why (sometimes they even know the person).

Answer 2

If a national figure, such as a former President, dies, the current President will declare a period of mourning. All federal buildings fly their flags at half mast if the flags at the Capitol Building are being flown that way; this is what sets precident for the rest of the nation.

You may also fly your flag at half mast if someone in your organization or your community or your family has passed away. The Post Office flies their flag at half mast when a former Postmaster General dies; when soldiers from a local town die in Iraq, often the flags of the whole town are flown at half mast. And of course you may fly your flag at half mast at any time for personal reasons.

Answer 3

A flag can be flown at half mast for any reason, but there are rules as to how long, ie, 30 days for ex-president.

Answer 4

I found a notification on the Gettysburg Flag Works Facebook page, they post when you re supposed to fly it at half-mast.

Answer 5

the flag at my job remains at half mass in honor of the soldiers in Iraq. However, I do think I remember when Reagan died they anounced that flags are required to be at half mass in government buildings and I think they even put a time fame on it.

Answer 6

....or half STAFF.....is proper too. the president usually declares a period of mourning and will fly the flag at half mast. one other thing to remember, NO other flag (ie: state flag) can be flown higher than the US flag. so your state or other orgainzation flag would have to be at 1/2 staff also.

Answer 7

half MAST...MAST...it's a MAST...not a religious service.
when someone important dies...like the President of the U.S., past presidents of the U.S...whenever the President of the U.S. decree's flags flown at half MAST. Usually it's told on t.v., in the newspapers, on the radio.

Answer 8

i do no longer think of they're going to, yet in spite of this, our u . s . a . might marvel us. I trust PrincessPeach that we've troops being killed every day in Iraq and we don't fly our flags at 0.5 mass for them, yet we'd desire to continuously.

Answer 9

Generally when an important person has died (X-president for instance)

Answer 10

when someone of great importance dies, like a(n) ex-president or someone of great honor, A U.S. Soldier.