I am interested in having a US flag patch sewn on the right arm of my baseball jersey.
Section 8j. of the Flag Code states, "No part of the flag should ever be used as a costume or athletic uniform."
While inside a building, on a staff that sits on the floor, is there a particular side of the building the flag needs to be on? east, south, north, west?
No, the direction is not important inside a building. The US flag should be in the place of prominence in the room. This is usually at the far left corner or centered on the far wall, as you enter the room.
When inside a building, suspended from the ceiling, is the direction important?
Yes. Section 7o reads, "When the flag is suspended across a corridor or lobby in a building with only one main entrance, it should be suspended vertically with the union of the flag to the observer's left upon entering. If the building has more than one main entrance, the flag should be suspended vertically near the center of the corridor or lobby with the union to the north, when entrances are to the east and west or to the east when entrances are to the north and south."
Half-Staff, Half-Mast
Is there a difference between half-mast and half-staff?
According to Merriam-Webster's (3rd Edition):
Half-mast: a point some distance but not necessarily halfway down below the top of a mast or staff or the peak of a gaff.
Half-staff: HALF-MAST — used of a flag or a flagpole
The Associated Press Style Guide suggests using "half staff."
However, most dictionaries use "half-mast" as the preferred term.
The Flag Code (section 7-m) reads:
The term "half-staff" means the position of the flag when it is one-half the distance between the top and bottom of the staff;
Using Google, you find the term "half-mast" 592,000 times and the term "half-staff" 428,000 times. Searching White House press releases "half-staff" appears 80 times to "half-mast" only 4 times.
Naval flag protocol uses the term "half-staff" 10 times, and the term "half-mast" 61 times.
Our conclusion is that both terms can be used. The term "half-mast" is preferred by dictionaries and seems more appropriate at sea (as ships have masts). "Half-staff" seems more appropriate on land, and is the preferred term used in the Flag Code and in Presidential proclamations.
We call it a draw. The two terms may be used interchangeably for general use.
Should I fly my flag at half-staff today?
When to half-staff the flag
May 15 — Peace Officers Memorial Day: half-staff from sunrise to sunset
Last Monday in May — Memorial Day: the flag should be displayed at half-staff until noon
September 11 — Patriot Day: half-staff from sunrise to sunset
First Sunday in October — Start of Fire Prevention Week: half-staff from sunrise to sunset. See Public Law 107-51
December 7 — National Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day: half-staff from sunrise to sunset
Upon reliable information that a past or present President, Vice-President, Chief Justice, or Speaker of the House has died
Upon Presidential proclamation (see next) or your state's governor (see after)
Presidential proclamation
By statute, the President is requested each year to issue a proclamation requiring government buildings to half-staff the flag and inviting all the people of the US to do so as well, on Peace Officers Memorial Day, Patriot Day, and National Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day (see above).
Section 7m of the Flag Code reads:
The flag, when flown at half-staff, should be first hoisted to the peak for an instant and then lowered to the half-staff position. The flag should be again raised to the peak before it is lowered for the day. On Memorial Day the flag should be displayed at half-staff until noon only, then raised to the top of the staff. By order of the President, the flag shall be flown at half-staff upon the death of principal figures of the United States Government and the Governor of a State, territory, or possession, as a mark of respect to their memory. In the event of the death of other officials or foreign dignitaries, the flag is to be displayed at half-staff according to Presidential instructions or orders, or in accordance with recognized customs or practices not inconsistent with law. In the event of the death of a present or former official of the government of any State, territory, or possession of the United States, or the death of a member of the Armed Forces from any State, territory, or possession who dies while serving on active duty, the Governor of that State, territory, or possession may proclaim that the National flag shall be flown at half-staff, and the same authority is provided to the Mayor of the District of Columbia with respect to present or former officials of the District of Columbia and members of the Armed Forces from the District of Columbia. The flag shall be flown at half-staff 30 days from the death of the President or a former President; 10 days from the day of death of the Vice President, the Chief Justice or a retired Chief Justice of the United States, or the Speaker of the House of Representatives; from the day of death until interment of an Associate Justice of the Supreme Court, a Secretary of an executive or military department, a former Vice President, or the Governor of a State, territory, or possession; and on the day of death and the following day for a Member of Congress. The flag shall be flown at half-staff on Peace Officers Memorial Day, unless that day is also Armed Forces Day. As used in this subsection —
the term "half-staff" means the position of the flag when it is one-half the distance between the top and bottom of the staff;
the term "executive or military department" means any agency listed under sections 101 and 102 of title 5, United States Code; and
the term "Member of Congress" means a Senator, a Representative, a Delegate, or the Resident Commissioner from Puerto Rico.
In addition to the Flag Code, Proclamation 3044 Section 5 states, "The heads of the several departments and agencies of the [federal] Government may direct that the flag of the United States be flown at half-staff on buildings, grounds, or naval vessels under their jurisdiction on occasions other than those specified herein which they consider proper, and that suitable military honors be rendered as appropriate."
Upon the death of a sitting or former President how long does the flag fly at half-mast? For a Vice-President? Others?
30 days from the death of the President or a former President
10 days from the day of death for: Vice President; Chief Justice of the US or a retired Chief Justice of the US; Speaker of the House of Representatives
Day of death until interment for: Associate Justice of the Supreme Court; Secretary of an executive or military department; Former Vice President; Governor of a State, territory, or possession
Day of death and the following day for: Member of Congress
Section 7-m of the Flag Code
How can I show mourning if my flag is on a fixed pole or staff and can't be half-masted?
The flag rules make no provisions for this. You can affix a streamer of black crepe to the staff immediately below the spearhead of the U.S. flag. It should be no wider than 1 foot, but may be less wide to match the proportionality of the flag. It should be about 1-1/2 times the hoist of the fly (the shorter dimension; the height of the flag). Attach a black streamer with a bow-knot to the spearhead (top) of the pole, allowing the streamer to fall naturally. Alternately, you can affix black bow-knots, with or without streamers, placed at the fastening points.
Can the US flag be flown at half staff and the state flag be flown underneath of it on the same pole?
Yes. The US flag should be at a point midway on the pole and the state flag should fly beneath it.
When the US flag is at half-staff, do other foreign flags fly at full-staff?
Yes. "The flag of the United States will be flown at half-staff whether or not the flag of another nation is flown at full staff alongside the United States flag."
Reference: Department of the Army Pamphlet 600–60
When the US flag is at half mast, should other flags (state, city, company) be flown at half mast?
Yes, they should. Here is what Section 7f of the Flag Code states:
When flags of States, cities, or localities, or pennants of societies are flown on the same halyard with the flag of the United States, the latter should always be at the peak. When the flags are flown from adjacent staffs, the flag of the United States should be hoisted first and lowered last. No such flag or pennant may be placed above the flag of the United States or to the United States flag's right.
Therefore, when the US flag is flown at half-mast, other non-national flags should also fly at half-mast.
On Memorial Day, should we place small flags at gravesites?
Yes, it is customary to honor fallen soldiers every Memorial Day by placing a small flag at the gravesite. At Arlington Cemetery, on the Thursday before the Memorial Day weekend, small flags are placed at every burial site in a ceremony called "Flags In." The small flags are removed at the end of the Memorial Day weekend.
Memorial Day is the last Monday of May and the flag should be displayed at half-staff until noon and then raised to full-staff. Full staff shows that the nation lives, for the flag is the symbol of the living nation.
Memorial Day began after the Civil War to honor the fallen Union soldiers. Over time it expanded to memorialize those who served from all branches of the military and in all wars. It was traditionally celebrated on May 30. In 1968, it was changed to the last Monday in May, traditionally kicking off the unofficial beginning of the summer season. At 3:00pm a minute of silence is observed across the nation.
Reference and more history: US Dept. of Veterans Affairs
Can the governor order the US flag half-staffed for anyone he or she chooses?
No. Section 7m of the Flag Code authorizes a governor to half-staff the US flag upon the death of a present or former official of the government of the state, or the death of a member of the Armed Forces from that state who dies while serving on active duty.
The President, by comparison, is authorized to half-staff the US flag by proclamation upon the death of principal figures of the US Government and the Governor of a State, territory, or possession, as well as in the event of the death of other officials or foreign dignitaries.
We recommend flying the state flag at half-staff.
A recent change allows governors to order the flag to half-staff to honor fallen soldiers from their state. The change was the result of governor proclamations, like this one from Governor Granholm of Michigan.
Some object to this extension of a governor's authority because they feel half-staffing the flag for every fallen soldier can be seen as anti-war. Some feel that overuse cheapens the symbolic power of half-staffing the flag, traditionally reserved for political leaders.
Can the mayor order the US flag to half-mast?
