Is a town supposed to lower the flags to half mast when a local soldier is killed in combat?

Question

My cousin was killed in Iraq on Tuesday and we wondered if the city should have done this in respect.

Answer 1

My condolences to you and your family, no a town does not have to do anything for a service member..good luck

Answer 2

First of all, so sorry to hear of your loss and thank you family for me. I am a National Guard soldier and know how tough life can be for families that have lost loved ones.

The only people that can have the authority to have the flag lowered to half mast is the govenor of the State in which you live and the President of the United States. However if the mayor of the town requests the govenor to have the flags lowered, they will more than likely grant it.

Answer 3

I don't know if they are supposed to, but it would certainly be a gesture of respect. I guess a lot depends on how large is the city or town where you live? When my son died, the state facility where he worked lowered the flags on their campus, but no other government facility did. I thought it was thoughtful and generous of them, but, like I said, he worked there. I was surprised that they did that, and if I were you, I would not be too upset if the city did not lower their flags. May you find peace.

Answer 4

I am sorry that your cousin was killed. Usually a flag is lowered at half mass only at the president's discretion. In other words, only the President can make that call.
I know this because I served in the military. During that time, I served in Iraq, Kuwait and also Afghanistan.

Answer 5

I live in a small town and a soldier from here was lost as well. I asked the Post Office to lower their flag, and they did. Soon, all the other businesses in town followed. Maybe you should ask, and explain why. I'm sure they'd comply.

Answer 6

KABUL, Afghanistan -- An Army sergeant complained in a rare opinion article that the U.S. flag flew at half-staff last week at the largest U.S. base in Afghanistan for those killed at Virginia Tech but the same honor is not given to fallen U.S. troops here and in Iraq.

In the article issued Monday by the public affairs office at Bagram military base north of Kabul, Sgt. Jim Wilt lamented that his comrades' deaths have become a mere blip on the TV screen, lacking the "shock factor" to be honored by the Stars and Stripes as the deaths at Virginia Tech were.

"I find it ironic that the flags were flown at half-staff for the young men and women who were killed at VT, yet it is never lowered for the death of a U.S. service member," Wilt wrote.

See link to read the rest and sorry for your loss - http://www.nctimes.com/articles/2007/04/23/military/1_00_374_23_07.txt

Answer 7

First of all i want to say sorry for your loss, my deepest sympathy is with you and your family.

My son is in Iraq right now and i worry all the time.

Now for your question, if your cousin is from thios city, i believe out of respect they should have lowered the flag. I would call your city mayor and tell them how you feel.

Again sorry for your loss.

Answer 8

Excerpt from the U. S. Flag Code: The flag in mourning: to place the flag at 0.5-team (or 0.5-mast, on ships), hoist it to the top for an on the spot and decrease it to a place 0.5 way between the acceptable and backside of the staff. The flag is to be raised returned to the top for a 2nd till now it incredibly is decreased. On Memorial Day, the flag is displayed at 0.5-team till midday and at complete team from midday to sunset. The flag is to be flown at 0.5-team in mourning for the dying of concentrated, correct government leaders. The flag is to be flown at 0.5-team for thirty days in mourning for the dying of the present or former President of united statesa.. The U.S. flag is in any different case flown at 0.5-team (or 0.5-mast, on ships) basically while directed by potential of the President of united statesa., a state governor (interior that state), or the mayor of Washington, D.C. (interior the district). while used to disguise a casket or coffin as a pall, the flag must be placed with the union on the top and over the left shoulder. it won't be decreased into the grave; it is likewise to be got rid of till now the casket is set for cremation. it incredibly is considered a acceptable sign of courtesy to salute a casket lined with the yank flag because of the fact the pall (in militia and state funerals) on the acceptable time. The U.S. flag is to be flown 0.5 team on Patriot Day (September aab3238922bcc25a6f606eb525ffdc56aab3238922bcc25a6f606eb525ffdc56).[aab3238922bcc25a6f606eb525ffdc56aab3238922bcc25a6f606eb525ffdc56]

Answer 9

Sorry for your loss. You can request the mayor or city council authorize the lowering the flags to half staff.

Answer 10

It usually takes a proclamation by the town's mayor and covers the time of first being notified to the day of the funeral and interment. And it's half staff, not half mast. Half mast is on ships.

Answer 11

Before I respond to your question I would like to quote the following…”…I feel how weak and fruitless must be any words of mine which should attempt to beguile you from the grief of a loss so overwhelming. But I cannot refrain from tendering to you the consolation that may be found in the thanks of the Republic they died to save. I pray that our heavenly Father may assuage the anguish of your bereavement, and leave you only the cherished memory of the loved and lost, and the solemn pride that must be yours to have laid so costly a sacrifice upon the altar of freedom.” [Abraham Lincoln; in a letter to Mrs. Lydia Bixbey, 21 November 1864 (read verbatim 134 years later in the motion picture, Saving Private Ryan, 1998)]

Short answer, no.
Long answer, no, because the national color is only flown at half staff/mast during specific holidays and by presidential directive. From what I have read, they (or you) may place black crepe at the entrance of your home or ask the city to do so at the entrance to the municipal building, but a flag may not be flown at half staff anytime someone is in mourning. The flag is a national color and thus not subject to individual mourning.
Aside from an excerpt I found below, I also located the following “…or the death of a member of the Armed Forces from any State, territory, or possession who dies while serving on active duty, the Governor of that State, territory, or possession may proclaim that the National flag shall be flown at half-staff, and the same authority is provided to the Mayor of the District of Columbia with respect to present or former officials of the District of Columbia and members of the Armed Forces from the District of Columbia.”
This is statewide so it would go higher up than just your town flying it’s national color at half staff.


§175. Position and manner of display
…
(m) The flag, when flown at half-staff, should be first hoisted to the peak for an instant and then lowered to the half-staff position. The flag should be again raised to the peak before it is lowered for the day. On Memorial Day the flag should be displayed at half-staff until noon only, then raised to the top of the staff. By order of the President, the flag shall be flown at half-staff upon the death of principal figures of the United States Government and the Governor of a State, territory, or possession, as a mark of respect to their memory. In the event of the death of other officials or foreign dignitaries, the flag is to be displayed at half-staff according to Presidential instructions or orders, or in accordance with recognized customs or practices not inconsistent with law. In the event of the death of a present or former official of the government of any State, territory, or possession of the United States, the Governor of that State, territory, or possession may proclaim that the National flag shall be flown at half-staff. The flag shall be flown at half-staff thirty days from the death of the President or a former President; ten days from the day of death of the Vice President, the Chief Justice or a retired Chief Justice of the United States, or the 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; and on the day of death and the following day for a Member of Congress. As used in this subsection -
(1) the term 'half-staff' means the position of the flag when it is one-half the distance between the top and bottom of the staff;
(2) the term 'executive or military department' means any agency listed under sections 101 and 102 of title 5; and
(3) the term 'Member of Congress' means a Senator, a Representative, a Delegate, or the Resident Commissioner from Puerto Rico.