An easy way to remember when to fly the flag at half-staff is to think in terms of national mourning and official orders: the flag is lowered to half- staff during designated mourning periods or on specific days ordered by government authorities, and then raised back to full height at the end of the period or day. Key points to remember
- National and official orders: Half-staff status is commonly triggered by presidential or gubernatorial proclamations, or by federal or state observances that specify a mourning period.
- Typical daily guideline: On days with a half-staff order, the flag is raised to the top first, then lowered to the half-staff position, and remains there for the duration of the period, from sunrise to sunset unless otherwise specified. It is often illuminated if flown overnight.
- Returning to full height: At the end of the observance, raise the flag back to the top before lowering it completely. This completes the tribute.
- Common reference points: Memorial Day, Peace Officers Memorial Day, Patriot Day, and days declared by the President or state authorities are typical examples of half-staff occasions. Check the specific proclamation for exact dates and times.
Simple mnemonic
- “Proclamation lowers, sunrise to sunset, raise before lowering.” This helps you remember that an official order triggers half-staff, and the usual practice is to observe from sunrise to sunset unless the order specifies otherwise.
If you’d like, I can tailor this to a specific country or region (for example, the United States vs. another nation) and summarize the current official rules for that jurisdiction.
