[THaire]

Does anyone know why flags are presently at half mast?

[Robin Hickman]

Hello, THaire !

Welcome to the USA-Flag-Site forums !

To my knowledge, there is no nationwide (USA) directive for flying the American Flag at half-staff (on land) or half-mast (at sea) today.

However, since the Governors of the individual States have the right to declare a "Half-Staff Day" WITHIN their State, perhaps that's what's going on where you live. And since you don't have you location listed, we don't know where you live.

IF you DO live in the United States, you might try going to your State's website and see if the governor of your State made a proclamation declaring all Flags within the State be flown at half-staff.

Hope that helps !

Robin "Not Fully Staffed This Evening!" Hickman

[THaire]

I'm in NC. A friend is in CO. We came to the conclusion that the flags in CO were at half mast for the 10th anniversary at Columbine. But we were a bit confused when considering the NC situation. I couldn't find anything as far as a national recognition from the President or Congress. Hence, the question.

[Robin Hickman]

Hello (again), THaire !

Well, the Colorado half-staffing makes sense.

As for North Carolina's (if I understand your entry correctly) reason, since the Marine Corps' Camp Lejune is in NC, could it be because one of the Marines stationed there was Killed-In-Action (KIA) in Afghanistan or Iraq?

Or maybe a member of the armed forces stationed at a base elsewhere in North Carolina, or a North Carolinian stationed stationed in Afghanistan or Iraq?

IF you find out anything, please let us know.

Thanx,

Robin "I Remember Thurston High School (Springfield, Oregon) In May, 1998" Hickman

[jlw311]

In response to the comment regarding flags at half mast today in North Carolina:

"North Carolina Governor Perdue has ordered all United States flags and North Carolina State flags at state facilities lowered to half-staff Tuesday, April 19, 2011 until sunset on Thursday, April 21, 2011 in tribute to the victims of the deadly tornados that swept through the state this past Saturday and the countless responders who saved lives and prevented additional injures."

[Peter Ansoff]

North Carolina Governor Perdue has ordered all United States flags and North Carolina State flags at state facilities lowered to half-staff Tuesday, April 19, 2011 until sunset on Thursday, April 21, 2011 in tribute to the victims of the deadly tornados that swept through the state this past Saturday and the countless responders who saved lives and prevented additional injures

This situation raises a curious technicality. The flag code was amended a couple of years ago, as discussed in this earlier thread:

who can order the flag half mast

It now states that state governors can direct that the flag be half-staffed for members of the armed forces who were from that state. It also says that federal installations in the state should follow the direction of the state governor in that case. This particular provision did not apply to Governor Perdue's action, because the victims were not armed forces members. The Governor can still direct the flag to be half-staffed, of course, but (at least as I read it) federal authorites are not required to follow suit in this case.

Peter Ansoff