My son just left for Iraq. Before he left, he asked us to fly our flag at half mast. I am a army veteran. I do not believe that we should do this. So my question is: Should we do this in honor of our son serving overseas or not.
2007-12-06 15:48:08 · 12 answers · asked by chrissndrl2003 2 in Politics & Government ➔ Military
If the flag is on private property, it's up to you. Lots of people do it.
On the other hand, that is supposed to be symbolic of mourning, so I would suggest no. Do you guys have one of those star banners? That's how you're supposed to show that you have a family member currently deployed. You can get one for free. Email me if you want the link.
2007-12-06 16:24:57 · answer #1 · answered by CAUTION:Truth may hurt! 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
No, you shouldn't, half mast is a way of honor and showing grief.
Technically we are only supposed to fly our flag at half mast on presidential order. However, I fly mine every year on the anniversary of the day my little brother was killed in an accident. In my eyes, if a former president is important enough to have the flag flown at half mast in remembrance of him, then by God my little brother is important enough too.
2007-12-06 23:54:39 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 3⤊ 1⤋
flag is to be at half mast only upon death of a limited number of federal civil servants (pres., vice pres., supreme court justice, sec. of defense et-cetra) or at the direction of the president or a states governor.
2007-12-06 23:58:56 · answer #3 · answered by michr 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Buy a Blue star flag and put it in your window while he's over there. It shows support for your family member who is away at war, a tradition going back to WWI.
I hope you never need a Gold Star Flag for your window...it's for family members who died fighting for our country.
2007-12-07 01:09:05 · answer #4 · answered by Greenman 5 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Seems like flying the flag at full mast in his honor would be appropriate.
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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, as occurred after the death of President Reagan and the death of President Ford.
* 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 recently included: the Oklahoma City bombing, the remembrance of the 9/11 attacks, the death of Lou Gehrig, the death of Pope John Paul II, the Space Shuttle Columbia disaster in 2003, the victims of Hurricane Katrina, the Indian Ocean earthquake and tsunami, the deaths of Coretta Scott King and Rosa Parks, and the Virginia Tech massacre.
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 September 11 (Patriot Day).
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.
2007-12-06 23:51:05 · answer #5 · answered by Joe D 6 · 3⤊ 0⤋
I do not understand his reasoning.....Is he honoring those that died?......Wouldn't it be more "positive" to fly the flag HIGH in honor of those that live and defend
I do not agree with him......do not understand his request......but .......Why not.......seems like a little sacrific compared to his
2007-12-07 00:09:35 · answer #6 · answered by Kojak 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Absolutely not. Only if the president decrees a time of mourning.
2007-12-06 23:58:58 · answer #7 · answered by trevors30 3 · 2⤊ 0⤋
No its only for those no longer with us
good luck to your son
and thank you for serving
2007-12-06 23:51:10 · answer #8 · answered by angryarron 3 · 4⤊ 0⤋
Only if someone has died. Fly it proudly otherwise.
2007-12-07 00:15:22 · answer #9 · answered by John S 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Why does he want you to mourn for him before he dies?
2007-12-07 01:29:41 · answer #10 · answered by Gray Wanderer 7 · 1⤊ 1⤋