Flying at Half-Mast
Each morning as I travel to work I see a large American flag flying in the wind. At times this beautiful flag will be flying at half-mast; as if it is weeping with sadness.
Flying the American flag at half-mast is a sign of respect for deceased officials, dignitaries and heroes. It also shows empathy to those dealing with tragedy. Although it doesn't carry the force of law, the United States Flag Code, signed in march 1954 by President Dwight Eisenhower, provides guidelines for the process and duration.
The number of days spent in mourning with the flag at half-mast corresponds to the rank of office a person held. For Presidents, it should be at half-mast for 30 days; for the vice-president, the Chief Justice or retired Chief Justice of the United States Supreme Court, or the Speaker of the House of Representatives, the number of days is 10. This is done at all federal buildings, grounds, and naval vessels through out the United states and its territories.
There is a federal law which includes a Congressional request that the flag be flown at half-mast on Peace Officers Memorial Day (May 15th), unless that is also Armed Forces Day. Presidential proclamations also call for the flag to be flown at half-mast on Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day (December 7th), and Patriot Day (September 11th).
Although flying a flag at half-mast isn't mandatory, local communities, school districts, federal agencies or companies may decide to do so because of the death of and employee, student, a mayor or local police officer. This is usually done for a couple of days.
Growing up, the number of times we saw a flag at half-mast were far less than today's children see. It seems like this is happening far too often; so many tragedies such as school shootings, workplace shootings, mass shootings by those filled with hate, acts of terrorism - too many to count. And each one fills our hearts with great sadness, and once again requires the respect of the flag being flown at half-mast; too common an event today.
I fear that our children may become numb to this site, that their exposure to these tragedies will happen too often, and the tradition of flying the flag at half-mast will fade away; too much of a reminder of the sadness it invokes. I guess as adults, we need to comfort them, and show them by example. As a country, as American citizens, we need to come together and fly our flag at half-mast to show our respect and empathy. It is the right and honorable thing to do.
Flying the American flag at half-mast is a sign of respect for deceased officials, dignitaries and heroes. It also shows empathy to those dealing with tragedy. Although it doesn't carry the force of law, the United States Flag Code, signed in march 1954 by President Dwight Eisenhower, provides guidelines for the process and duration.
The number of days spent in mourning with the flag at half-mast corresponds to the rank of office a person held. For Presidents, it should be at half-mast for 30 days; for the vice-president, the Chief Justice or retired Chief Justice of the United States Supreme Court, or the Speaker of the House of Representatives, the number of days is 10. This is done at all federal buildings, grounds, and naval vessels through out the United states and its territories.
There is a federal law which includes a Congressional request that the flag be flown at half-mast on Peace Officers Memorial Day (May 15th), unless that is also Armed Forces Day. Presidential proclamations also call for the flag to be flown at half-mast on Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day (December 7th), and Patriot Day (September 11th).
Although flying a flag at half-mast isn't mandatory, local communities, school districts, federal agencies or companies may decide to do so because of the death of and employee, student, a mayor or local police officer. This is usually done for a couple of days.
Growing up, the number of times we saw a flag at half-mast were far less than today's children see. It seems like this is happening far too often; so many tragedies such as school shootings, workplace shootings, mass shootings by those filled with hate, acts of terrorism - too many to count. And each one fills our hearts with great sadness, and once again requires the respect of the flag being flown at half-mast; too common an event today.
I fear that our children may become numb to this site, that their exposure to these tragedies will happen too often, and the tradition of flying the flag at half-mast will fade away; too much of a reminder of the sadness it invokes. I guess as adults, we need to comfort them, and show them by example. As a country, as American citizens, we need to come together and fly our flag at half-mast to show our respect and empathy. It is the right and honorable thing to do.
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