Half Staff

With a title like Half Staff you probably thought this was going to be another article about staffing issues or full employment, but nooooooo, I gotcha again. This is going to be about flags flying at half-staff…

Growing up, I remember on a few occasions each year, they would lower the flag at school. The principal would tell us why. We would go outside and salute the flag, say the Pledge of Allegiance, and then walk quietly back to class. It was a rare yet somber occasion.

The US Flag and individual state flags can be ordered by the executive (President or Governor) to be flown at half-staff as a way to officially recognize a national tragedy or memorialize a special day. It is currently at half-staff to mourn Pope Francis‘ passing. 

It was also flown at half-staff after President Jimmy Carter passed away (federal law requires this). It is also flown at half staff on Memorial Day until noon. May 5th: National Fallen Firefighters Memorial Day, May 15th: Peace Officer Memorial Day,  September 11th: Patriot Day (9/11), and December 7th: Pearl Harbor Day. 

Historically, the flag is flown at half mast 6-9 times a year. In recent years, you may have noticed that the US flag (or a state flag) has been flying at half-staff almost 1 out of 4 days in a calendar year.

In fact, there are so many half-staff days that there is a website with the daily updates. Today, the state flag of Wisconsin is flying at half-mast, and I don’t know why.

Yes, it’s important to remember and to mark somber occasions, but is it healthy for our country to be in an almost constant state of mourning? Your thoughts? Email me here.