Flags at Half-Staff: What’s Happening & History Behind It

While we honor the service of a former President, we must also celebrate the service of an incoming President and the bright future ahead for the United States of America.

Texas Gov. Greg Abbott (R) in a statement after ordering all flags at state buildings be flown at full-staff on President-elect Donald Trump’s Inauguration Day. According to a White House proclamation, all flags should fly at half-staff through the end of the month out of respect for former President Jimmy Carter.

What Happened: Texas Gov. Abbot has stated flags will fly at full-staff on Inauguration Day. President-elect Trump has expressed frustration that flags will be at half-staff throughout the nation during his inauguration. The debate over half-staff or full-staff begs the question: where did the tradition come from?

• Why are flags flown at half-staff? American flags can be flown at half-staff (or “half-mast” in naval settings) to signify mourning for a former government or public official, as well as for foreign dignitaries. U.S. flags can also be flown at half-staff to mark national memorials (such as Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day) or to mark recent tragic events.
• What is the history? Flying flags at half-staff has roots in naval history. According to The Sextant, the official blog of Naval History and Heritage Command, “Flags were lowered just enough to leave room for an invisible flag to fill the void — the flag of death.” One of the earliest references of flags being flown at half-mast dates back to 1612, when an English explorer died during an expedition: “When the ship, Heart’s Ease, sailed back to England, the ship was flying its flags half-mast to honor their captain.”
• How has this evolved in the U.S.? This tradition made its way to America, though the U.S. Dept. of Veteran Affairs shares: “In the early days of our country, no regulations existed for flying the flag at half-staff, and as a result, there were many conflicting policies.” However, on March 1, 1954, Pres. Dwight Eisenhower issued a proclamation with specific national protocols for flying flags at half-staff.

Something To Consider: A 30-day mourning period with flags flying half-staff is typical in the event of the death of a president or former president. In 1973, flags flew at half-staff during former Pres. Richard Nixon’s swearing in during his second term, as flags were lowered out of respect for former Pres. Harry Truman, who had died fewer than 30 days prior. Following the death of former Pres. Lyndon Johnson, Pres. Nixon chose to raise flags prior to the 30-day mark to honor the first American prisoners of war released from Vietnam. The raising of the flags only lasted one day before going back to half-staff for eight days (until the full 30 days of mourning for former Pres. Johnson ended).

Read More: Texas governor orders state’s flags raised to full-staff for Trump’s inauguration (The Hill)

Why are US flags being flown at half-staff on Inauguration Day? (The Associated Press)

Flying the American Flag at Half Staff (U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs)