The US Flag Code governs the display of the American flag, including when it should be flown at half-mast. The President and state governors can issue orders for this, and it is usually done to mourn prominent political figures. The flag is raised to the top of the pole before being lowered halfway, and then raised to the top again at the end of the day. Other flags are also usually flown at half-mast, with the American flag above them.
Like many other nations, the United States flies its national flag at half-mast or half-staff in mourning and respect for deceased prominent national figures such as former presidents, Supreme Court justices, governors, and members of Congress. Like other businesses having to do with the American flag, flag masting is governed by the United States Flag Code, which also covers other flag etiquette issues such as how the American flag should be displayed, when it may be flown and how flags should be handled. Many nations have a similar flag code which is designed to establish rules for the respectful treatment of the national flag.
The United States Flag Code only governs the display of the American flag within the United States. Abroad, the flag is expected to be displayed in accordance with other national flag codes, which often have restrictions on the heights at which foreign flags may be displayed. When flying the flag at half-mast, citizens should be aware that the Flag Code states how the flag should be displayed this way, but not when. The flag positions of federal mandates apply only to federal agencies, although state agencies and citizens are encouraged to follow suit.
At the federal level, the President of the United States issues orders as to when the flag is to be flown at half-mast. Common instances in which the flag is flown in this manner include the death of a former president, in which case the flag is flown at half-mast for 30 days, the death of a vice president, chief justice, or speaker of the House, when the flag is at half-mast for 10 days, and the deaths of other prominent political figures, which is usually accompanied by only one day of flying this way. The only day of the year when the American flag must fly at half-mast is Memorial Day.
At the state level, a state governor may also issue an order to fly the flag at half-mast, for many of the same reasons the president does. When the president issues an order to fly the flag in this manner, state governors usually supplement it with a directive to state agencies. The Governor may also elect to fly the flag at half-mast to commemorate the death of a well-known figure within the state, or for a state day of mourning.
To fly the American flag at half-mast, it is first raised to the top of the flagpole and then lowered to halfway. At the end of the day, the flag is raised to the top of the flagpole before being lowered all the way down. On Remembrance Day, the flag is flown at half-mast for only half of the day: at noon, the flag is raised all the way. Because the American flag within the United States must always fly higher than other flags, flags of states and other nations are also usually flown at half-mast. If two flags are flown on the pole, the American flag should be above the other flag as usual.
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