Flag at Half-Staff

Personal tragedy might create an opportunity for you to fly your flag at half-staff, but you might not know about other times when it would be necessary or appropriate to do so.

By a joint resolution approved in 1962, the President has been authorized and requested to designate May 15 of each year as “Peace Officers Memorial Day” and the week in which it falls as “Police Week.” The President will call upon all citizens to observe these events with appropriate ceremonies and activities, and will also call on Governors of the United States and the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico and other territories subject to the jurisdiction of the United States to direct that the flag be flown at half-staff on Peace Officers Memorial Day and encourage all citizens to display the flag at half-staff from their homes and businesses on that day.
Other dates where it may be customary to fly your flag at half-staff are Memorial Day, (sunrise to noon) Patriot Day –September 11th , (sunrise to sunset) Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day -December 7th, (sunrise to sunset).
When flying your flag at half-staff it is suggested that it been flown there from sunrise to sunset, Memorial Day being the exception, when it is flown until noon. When raising the flag on a vertical pole, raise it briskly to the top of the flagpole for a moment before lowering it. When taking it down for the night, raise it to the top of the flagpole again and lower it to the bottom. When the United States flag is flown at half-staff, attention banners, state and other flags should be removed or flown at half-staff as well.
If your flag is a wall-mounted flag and can, therefore, not be lowered, it is appropriate to attach a black ribbon or streamer to the top of your flag. The ribbon should be the same length as your flag and the width should be the same as the stripes on your flag. Contact us at Colonial Flag for more tips on flag protocol, as well as customized flags and attention banners.