You’re driving to work, maybe sipping a lukewarm coffee, when you glance up at a local post office or a bank. There it is. The American flag isn't at the top of the pole; it's hovering halfway down. You immediately wonder, Wait, what happened? Then the follow-up question hits: How long are the flags at half staff supposed to stay like that?
Honestly, it’s not just a random gesture. There’s a whole set of rules—the U.S. Flag Code—that dictates exactly how long that piece of fabric stays lowered. Most people think it’s always just for a day or until a funeral is over. In reality, the duration can range from a few hours to an entire month depending on who we’re mourning. It’s a bit of a bureaucratic maze, but it’s actually pretty fascinating once you dig into it.
The 30-Day Rule: Why Some Flags Stay Down Forever
If you see flags lowered for what feels like an eternity, it’s almost certainly because of the death of a President or a former President.
The law is very specific here. Under 4 U.S. Code § 7, the flag must be flown at half-staff for 30 days following the death of a sitting or former Commander-in-Chief. This is the ultimate mark of respect. Think back to when George H.W. Bush passed away, or most recently, when the nation began preparing for the protocols surrounding figures like Jimmy Carter. For a full month, every federal building, naval vessel, and embassy across the globe keeps those colors lowered.
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It’s a long time. People often start calling their local city halls after week two, asking if someone forgot to raise the flag. They didn't. It's just the law.
The 10-Day Window and the "Until Interment" Rule
Not everyone gets a full month. There’s a second tier of mourning that lasts exactly 10 days. This applies to:
- The Vice President
- The Speaker of the House
- The Chief Justice (or a retired Chief Justice) of the Supreme Court
Then, things get a little more "flexible" but no less somber. For Associate Justices of the Supreme Court, Cabinet members, former Vice Presidents, and state governors, the flag stays at half-staff from the day of death until interment (the burial).
This creates some variation. If a funeral is delayed for two weeks, the flag stays down for two weeks. If the burial happens three days later, the flag goes back up on the fourth day. If you're wondering why the flags are at half staff in your specific state but not the neighboring one, it's usually because your Governor passed away or issued a specific local proclamation.
The Weird Quirks of Memorial Day
Memorial Day is the one day that confuses everyone. You’d think the flag would be down all day, right? Nope.
On the last Monday of May, the flag starts at half-staff at sunrise, but only until noon. At exactly 12:00 PM, it is briskly hoisted to the peak. Why? The tradition is that the first half of the day is for mourning the fallen, while the second half is for the living to resolve not to let their sacrifice be in vain. It’s a transition from grief to national strength. If you see a flag at half-staff at 3:00 PM on Memorial Day, someone actually missed the memo.
Scheduled National Days of Mourning
Aside from the death of a dignitary, we have a "calendar" for lowering the flag. These are fixed dates where you’ll see flags at half-staff from sunrise to sunset:
- May 15: Peace Officers Memorial Day (unless it falls on Armed Forces Day).
- September 11: Patriot Day.
- December 7: Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day.
- First Sunday in October: National Fallen Firefighters Memorial Service.
Who Actually Has the Power to Order This?
This is where people get into heated debates. Can your Mayor order the flag to half-staff? Technically, under federal law, only the President of the United States and the Governor of a state (or the Mayor of D.C.) have the legal authority to order the U.S. flag to half-staff.
A local school principal or a business owner might lower their flag to honor a beloved local teacher, and while the Flag Police aren't going to show up and handcuff them, it’s technically not in line with the official code. The Code is designed to keep the gesture from becoming "diluted." If the flag is halfway down every time a local celebrity passes, the impact of the gesture starts to fade.
The Physical Act: How to "Do" Half-Staff
You can't just pull the flag halfway up and tie it off. There is a specific etiquette that most people miss.
When you’re raising the flag to half-staff, you must first hoist it to the very top (the peak) for an instant and then lower it to the middle. When you take it down for the night, you have to raise it to the peak again before lowering it all the way. It’s a two-step process every time.
If you have a flag at home that’s mounted to a fixed pole—like the ones that stick out of your house at an angle—you obviously can't slide the flag down the pole. In that case, the proper way to show mourning is to attach a black crepe streamer or ribbon to the top of the pole. It’s a simple workaround that keeps the respect intact without needing a 20-foot commercial flagpole.
Modern Trends and the "Overuse" Debate
In the last few years, we've seen flags at half-staff more often than ever. Following mass shootings or national tragedies, Presidents have increasingly used their proclamation power to order flags down for 5 days or until a specific sunset.
Some traditionalists argue that we are lowering the flag too frequently, making it a "participation trophy" of grief. Others believe it's the only way a modern nation can collectively pause and acknowledge shared trauma. Regardless of where you stand, the trend is clear: the duration is becoming more tied to the "national mood" than just the strict list of names in the 1950s version of the Flag Code.
Actionable Steps for Flag Owners
If you want to stay compliant and respectful, here is the best way to handle your flag:
- Check the Official Status: Before you lower your flag, check FlagStewards or the White House briefings. Governors also post proclamations on their official state websites.
- Observe the "Until Noon" Rule: On Memorial Day, set a phone alarm for 12:00 PM. Raising that flag to the top is a key part of the tradition that honors the "living" side of our history.
- Use a Mourning Ribbon: If your home flag is on a short, fixed porch pole, don't try to bunch it up in the middle. Buy a black mourning ribbon and attach it to the top. It looks significantly more professional and respectful.
- Mind the Light: If you are keeping the flag at half-staff for a 30-day period, remember it must be illuminated at night. If you don't have a spotlight, you need to take it down at sunset and put it back up at sunrise—following the "peak first" rule every single time.