What is Half-Staff and When Should I Use It?
Flying the flag at half-staff is a sign of mourning and respect.
Half-Staff vs. Half-Mast:
- Half-staff - On land (flagpoles)
- Half-mast - On ships
- Both terms often used interchangeably
How to Display at Half-Staff:
- Raise to peak - First hoist flag to top of pole
- Lower to half-staff - Then lower to position halfway between top and bottom
- Raise to peak before lowering - At day's end, raise to peak, then lower completely
When to Fly at Half-Staff:
By Presidential Proclamation:
- Death of current or former President
- Death of Vice President or other officials
- National tragedies
- Memorial events
By State Governor:
- Death of state officials
- State tragedies
- State memorial events
Scheduled Half-Staff Days:
- Memorial Day - Sunrise to noon only
- Peace Officers Memorial Day - May 15th
- Patriot Day - September 11th
- Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day - December 7th
Duration:
- President: 30 days
- Vice President: 10 days
- Supreme Court Justice: Day of death until burial
- Member of Congress: Day of death and following day
Personal Mourning:
You may fly your flag at half-staff for personal mourning, though it's not required by flag code.
Notification:
- Check HalfStaff.org for current orders
- Sign up for email alerts
- Follow official government announcements
Need help adjusting your flagpole? See Raising and Lowering Your Flagpole.