when our country mourns someone ,and president orders the country FLAGS HALF STAFF ???

Question

what does half staff means, and where did the word staff come from?

Answer 1

It is in Honor of the one or ones that have died or have fallen

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

Answer 2

The "staff" is the thing the flag is hanging on. I think it comes from a time when we actually had homemade flags attached to wooden staves.

"Half mast" is another way of saying it, and it simply means that you fly the colors halfway up the pole.

Officially, the proper way to do it is to raise the flag all the way up the pole and then lower it to half-mast where you tie it down and let it fly. The flag is to be raised as quickly as possible and lowered very slowly for maximum flying time.

At the end of the day, the flag is lowered very slowly to the music "taps". There are actual time requirements for the military. I don't remember them exactly, but it's something like 2 1/2 minutes in the morning when you're raising and I think it's 1:58 (just under 2 mintues) at sunset when you lower the flag. From the start of the music, this is the proper time for raising and lowering, and the flag is supposed to be in movement the whole time.

(Whyme above mentioned the rule of hanging 6' from the top. This is not followed by anyone that I know of and is impractical. Some flag poles are 30-40' high, and 6' from the top wouldn't meet the definition of "half mast". Also, on ships, the flag pole is only about 8-10' long, and flying 6' from the top would put the flag on the ground!)

Answer 3

A flag pole is also called a staff. The flag is ordered at half staff, or roughtly half way up to the top, to mourn the death of an important person. To raise the flag to such a manner one must run the flag completely to the top and then lower it to half staff each time the flag is raised during the mourning period. The period for mourning is generally 30 days.

Answer 4

The staff is the flag pole, although the term "half staff" is used the flag, according to military tradition should be flown 6 feet from the top and not necessarily half way up or down. It is a sign of respect or mourning similar to flag bearers lowering or dipping their flags as they can not salute because they are holding the flags.

Answer 5

The usage has changed, In some cases now the flag seems to be flown so low that it nearly touches the ground if there is no wind.

Flag etiquette USED to dictate that the witdth of the FLAG beign flown was the proper distance from the top of the pole (staff, mast) upon which it was hung. It got more attention and reminded people that there had been some sort of loss which was being remembered.

Answer 6

The staff is the pole or stick which the flag hangs on. This term is used in the military. Large units needed to identify themselves and were broken down by using flags to identify them in battle. This system is still used today in military parades and ceremonies. Half staff is exactly that, when the country is morning it will lower the flag half way down the pole. The proper way to lower the U.S. flag at half staff is the raise it up as normal then lower it approximately half way down the pole, flag at half staff.

Answer 7

The "group" is the ingredient the flag is striking on. i think of it comes from a time while we truthfully had domicile made flags related to wood staves. "0.5 mast" is yet in a diverse way of exclaiming it, and it only ability which you fly the colors halfway up the pole. formally, the right thank you to try this's to enhance the flag each and each of how up the pole and then decrease it to 0.5-mast the place you tie it down and enable it fly. The flag is to be raised as devoid of postpone as achievable and decreased very slowly for optimal flying time. on the top of the day, the flag is decreased very slowly to the track "faucets". There are certainly time standards for the militia. i do no longer bear in concepts them precisely, regardless of the undeniable fact that that is a few thing like 2 a million/2 minutes in the morning once you're raising and that i think of that's a million:fifty 8 (slightly below 2 mintues) at sundown once you decrease the flag. From the beginning up of the track, it incredibly is the right time for raising and lowering, and the flag is meant to be in flow the full time. (Whyme above pronounced the guideline of striking 6' from the precise. that is incredibly not observed by ability of all people that i know of and is impractical. some flag poles are 30-40' extreme, and 6' from the precise does no longer meet the definition of "0.5 mast". additionally, on ships, the flag pole is barely approximately 8-10' long, and flying 6' from the precise would positioned the flag on the floor!)

Answer 8

Fly the flag lower on the pole or "staff." It signifies that the country is in mourning. Symbolic "drooping" of the nation over the loss.

Answer 9

It is also a flag at half mast. I have heard it be at half Staff too. Being at half mast or at half staff is just literally having the flag halfway up the staff or mast (flagpole). I think mast comes from a ships mast.

Answer 10

the staff is the stick the flag hangs on. aka mast.