Ever walked outside, looked up, and felt that sudden "oh no" pit in your stomach because the flag was halfway down the pole? You’re not alone. It’s one of those silent signals that stops you in your tracks. Honestly, seeing a flag at half-staff (or half-mast, if you're a stickler for maritime terms) immediately tells you that something—or someone—important has been lost.
But here’s the thing: why the flag was lowered today depends entirely on where you’re standing.
There isn't always one big national tragedy dominating the headlines. Often, these orders come from state governors to honor local heroes that don't make the evening news in the next state over. If you saw the flag lowered on January 18, 2026, it’s likely tied to a specific state proclamation or a lingering period of national mourning for a major public figure.
The Big Reason: Honoring Public Servants
Today, several states have specific orders in place. In West Virginia, for instance, Governor Patrick Morrisey recently called for flags to be lowered to honor former Delegate Paul Prunty. Prunty was a fixture in Marion County for over a decade, and that kind of local service gets recognized with this specific honor.
If you’re in Arizona, you might still see flags low for former Attorney General Mark Brnovich. He was a major figure in the state's legal world for two terms. When someone like that passes, the governor usually orders flags down from the day of death until the day of interment.
It’s about respect. Plain and simple.
The Difference Between State and National Orders
You've probably noticed that sometimes the flag at the post office is down, but the one at the local car dealership is at the top. Why? It’s because the President of the United States and state Governors have different "jurisdictions" for mourning.
- The President can order the flag to half-staff across the entire country, all territories, and all military bases. This usually happens for the death of a sitting or former president, a Supreme Court justice, or after a massive national tragedy.
- Governors have the power to lower the flag within their own state borders. They do this for local officials, first responders killed in the line of duty, or even as a day of remembrance for a state-specific disaster.
Actually, there’s a recurring date in early January that still has some flags low in California. Governor Gavin Newsom proclaimed January 7th as a Day of Remembrance for the Los Angeles fires. While that date has passed, sometimes local municipalities or specific buildings keep the tribute going if they were directly impacted by the loss of life during those events.
Why 30 Days? The "Big One" Rule
Whenever a former President passes away, the flag stays at half-staff for 30 full days. We saw this recently with the passing of former President Jimmy Carter at the end of 2024. Even as the calendar turned to 2025, flags remained low for weeks.
For a Vice President, the Chief Justice, or the Speaker of the House, the period is 10 days.
For a Member of Congress? Just two days: the day of death and the day after. It seems a bit "corporate" to have a literal schedule for grief, but it’s all laid out in the U.S. Flag Code (4 U.S.C. § 7). Without these rules, the flag would be up and down like a yo-yo because, let’s be real, someone important is always passing away.
Common Misconceptions: What It’s NOT
People often assume that if the flag is down, there must have been a mass shooting or a new war. That’s not always the case. In fact, the Flag Code is pretty specific that it shouldn't be used for everything.
"The flag is a symbol of a living nation and is itself considered a living thing." — This is why we don't just lower it because we’re having a bad news week.
Some people think you can lower the flag for a private citizen or a local celebrity. Technically? No. The Governor or President has to make the call. If a local business lowers their flag for a beloved regular who passed away, they’re being respectful, but they aren't following the "official" Flag Code. But hey, who’s going to call the flag police on them? (Spoiler: there are no flag police, just very opinionated neighbors).
🔗 Read more: Why is Nebraska Electoral Votes Split: What Most People Get Wrong
How to Properly Lower the Flag
If you’re the person in charge of the pole at your office or home, you can’t just stop halfway. There’s a specific "dance" to it:
- The Hoist: You have to pull the flag all the way to the peak for a brief second first.
- The Lower: Then, you slowly bring it down to the halfway point.
- The Retrieval: When you take it down for the night, you have to pull it back to the top again before lowering it all the way to the ground.
It’s a bit of extra work, sure. But the symbolism is that the flag "belongs" at the top, and it's only being pulled down because the weight of the loss is holding it there.
Where to Check the Status Daily
If you're ever curious and don't want to dig through news sites, you can check the official White House Proclamations page or your specific Governor’s website. Most states have a "Flag Status" page that is updated the second an order is signed.
If you see the flag at half-mast today, take a second to think about the public servants or the fallen heroes in your specific area. Usually, it's a reminder that someone gave a big chunk of their life—or their life itself—to the community you're standing in right now.
Actionable Next Steps:
- Check your State Governor’s official website for "Executive Orders" to see if there is a local proclamation active today.
- If you fly a flag at home and can't lower it (like on a fixed wall-mount pole), you can legally attach a black mourning streamer to the top to show the same respect.
- Verify if your local municipality is observing a specific Day of Remembrance that might not be statewide but is being honored by city buildings.