How and when to fly the American flag at half-mast
Everyone knows that the American flag is flown at half mast* on Memorial Day.
But how many times have we driven past a government building and seen the flag at half-mast
and thought "hmmm...why is the flag at half-mast?" Below is a list of those occasions
other than Memorial Day on which the flag is flown at half-mast.
But first, here is the proper procedure for displaying the flag at half mast:
When to fly the American flag at half-mast
30 days from the date of death of
the President
a former President
10 days from the date of death of
the Vice President
the Chief Justice
a former Chief Justice
the Speaker of the House
from the date of death to interment of
an Associate Justice
the Secretary of an executive or military department
a former Vice President
a Governor of a State, territory or possession
The Governor of a State, territory or possession may order the American flag
to be flown at half-mast upon the death of a current or
former government official of that State, territory or possession