How to Fly a Flag at Half Staff

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By Moonshadow68
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Only fly the flag at half staff when instructed to do so by Presidential decree or when it is otherwise apropriate like Memorial Day.

Properly displaying the American flag is not a difficult thing, but flag etiquette requires that it be done properly.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

U.S. Flag
flag pole
appropriate weather
An appropriae reason

Step 1

The United States flag should be flown at half staff as decreed by the President, for the appropriate holiday (Memorial Day, Veteran's Day) or when decreed by local authorities as a sign of respect. At all other times, the flag should be flown at full staff, weather permitting.
Step 2

Unless you ahve an all weather flag, designed for such purpose, flags should not be flown in rain or other contiions which might damage the flag. A flag that begins to show wear or becomes damaged should be removed and disposed of properly. The local American Legion, VFW or boy Scouts often have flag retirement ceremonies.
Step 3

The flag should not be flown at night unless it is on a properly illuminated pole.
Step 4

To show proper respect when flying a flag at half staff, begin the day raising the flag to its highest point on the pole, wait 15 seconds and then lower to half staff. At the end of the day, the flag should be again raised to its full height and then lowered and removed.

Comments

westsidedeacon said

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on 9/29/2009 Close but no cigar. Steps 1 and 4 are incorrect.

Step 1: Only the President of the United States or a state governor can authorize the US Flag to be flown at half-staff.

Step 4: When flying the US Flag at half-staff you raise it briskly to the top of the pole for a moment (not 15 seconds) and then lower it slowly to half-staff.