Flying the United States Flag at Half-Staff

Flying the United States flag at half-staff, with LIBERTY FLAGS, The American Wave®
For information about recent Federal half-staff notifications, please visit our Half-staff Notifications Archive by clicking here >>

Raising the American flag at the beginning of the day

Raise the flag to the top of the staff for a few moments and then slowly lower it to half-staff. Half-staff is considered about midway between the top and bottom of the pole.

Lowering the American flag at the end of the day

First raise the flag from half-staff to the top of the staff for a moment and then lower it to the bottom of the pole.

When to fly the United States flag at half-staff

  1. Flag will be flown half-staff for 30 days following the death of the President of the United States.
  2. Flag will be flown half-staff for 10 days following the death of:
    • the Vice President of the United States
    • Current or retired Chief Justice of the United States
    • Speaker of the House of Representatives.
  3. Flag will be flown half-staff from the day of death until interment following the death of:
    • Associate Justice of the Supreme Court
    • Secretary of an executive or military department
    • Former Vice President
    • Governor of a State, territory or possession.
  4. Flag will be flown half-staff on the day of death and the following day for any Member of Congress.
  5. Flag will be flown half-staff on Peace Officers Memorial Day.
  6. By Presidential order, 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.
  7. By Presidential order, the flag shall be flown at half-staff upon the death of other officials or foreign dignitaries.
  8. By order the Governor of a State, territory or possession may proclaim that the United States Flag be flown at half-staff in the event of death of a present or former official of the government of the State, territory or possession.

Fly the American flag at half-staff on these days

  • Firefighters Memorial Day - Sunday on or before October 9
  • Memorial Day (half-staff until noon) - last Monday in May
  • Patriot Day - September 11
  • Peace Officers Memorial Day - May 15 (unless that day is also Armed Forces Day)
  • Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day - December 7