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Why Flags Get Lowered To Half-Staff

By Indiana Public Media News Staff

Posted July 18, 2016

The United States has seen countless tragedies already in 2016, and the one constant through such tragedies is the tradition of the flag being lowered to half-staff.

The flag is at half staff until sunset Tuesday in honor of the victims of the terrorist attack in Nice, France.

This marks the eighth time flags have already been lowered to half-staff in Indiana this year, only one short of the total for all of 2015.

The flag at half-mast has been a symbol for national mourning since the dawn of the United States, with each President ordering a flag at half-mast for different reasons.

The President has the most discretion in making the decision on whether or not to lower the flag but they generally follow the same guidelines. Flags can be ordered to half-staff:

  • For thirty days after the death of a current or former president or president-elect
  • For ten days after the death of a current vice president, current or retired chief justice, or current Speaker of the House
  • 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, the President Pro Tempore of the Senate or the governor of a state, territory, or possession.
  • On the day of death and the following day for a member of Congress
  • On Memorial Day until noon
  • Every September 11th
  • Upon Presidential proclamation, usually after the death of other notable figures or tragic event


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President Obama has lowered the flag to half-staff more than any president in history with 66 proclamations. President George W. Bush and President Clinton had 58 and 50 proclamations respectively.

Governors hold a similar power but not to the same extent. They are only allowed to authorize the lowering of the flag in remembrance of a current or former state official who died, or for a former armed service who died.

The last time the flag was called to half-mast was July 15 after the attack in Nice, France.

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