[NAVA1974]

Originally Posted by lorenrhoads

I was told by a tour guide that "Only four cemeteries fly flags at half-mast by order of Congress: Arlington, Gettysburg, Pearl Harbor, and Mackinac Island."

I find that curious as I don't recall seeing the flag at half-mast during my visits to Gettysburg. Here is a photo from the Cemetery:
http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_21VRh2VIlm...400/Blog05.JPG

I do know that the flag code specifies where the US flag flies 24 hours per day, but not permanently half-staffed.

Nick

[lorenrhoads]

It certainly is curious!

Someone has posted that the Mackinac Island Post Cemetery, Gettysburg, Arlington, and the Punchbowl Cemetery (not Pearl Harbor) all fly their flags at half-staff. It's all over the internet (ie., Wikipedia, Wapedia, Absolute Astronomy). I know those are not final sources, so I'm trying to trace the information back. I appreciate your weighing in on the subject.

That's a lovely photo of Gettysburg, too.

[Robin Hickman]

.
Greetings!

I'm surprised that no one has called (yet) the good folks of the "Mackinac Island Post Cemetery" and asked them the "source" of their information. If it's a "good" source and the information is "correct" then we're all the better for it.

If they don't know the "source" of their information, or the source is "not good", and/or the information is "incorrect", then they need to know about it. I'm sure that they do NOT want to continue to mislead their visitors.


Robin Hickman
Eugene, Oregon, USA
.

[lorenrhoads]

Calling the island is a great idea. Unfortunately, the State Park is only open in the summer, so the rangers are off-duty for a few more months. I'm hoping to find an answer sooner than that.

[NAVA1974]

Just so we are on the same page when it comes to the United States Flag Code, here is the text of the code relating to half-staffing of the flag:

"(m) The flag, when flown at half-staff, should be first hoisted to the peak for an instant and then lowered to the half-staff position. The flag should be again raised to the peak before it is lowered for the day. On Memorial Day the flag should be displayed at half-staff until noon only, then raised to the top of the staff. By order of the President, 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, as a mark of respect to their memory. In the event of the death of other officials or foreign dignitaries, the flag is to be displayed at half-staff according to Presidential instructions or orders, or in accordance with recognized customs or practices not inconsistent with law. In the event of the death of a present or former official of the government of any State, territory, or possession of the United States, or the death of a member of the Armed Forces from any State, territory, or possession who dies while serving on active duty, the Governor of that State, territory, or possession may proclaim that the National flag shall be flown at half-staff, and the same authority is provided to the Mayor of the District of Columbia with respect to present or former officials of the District of Columbia and members of the Armed Forces from the District of Columbia. The flag shall be flown at half-staff 30 days from the death of the President or a former President; 10 days from the day of death of the Vice President, the Chief Justice or a retired Chief Justice of the United States, or the Speaker of the House of Representatives; 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, or the Governor of a State, territory, or possession; and on the day of death and the following day for a Member of Congress. The flag shall be flown at half-staff on Peace Officers Memorial Day, unless that day is also Armed Forces Day. As used in this subsection —

1. the term "half-staff" means the position of the flag when it is one-half the distance between the top and bottom of the staff;
2. the term "executive or military department" means any agency listed under sections 101 and 102 of title 5, United States Code; and
3. the term "Member of Congress" means a Senator, a Representative, a Delegate, or the Resident Commissioner from Puerto Rico."

There is no mention of any particular location where the flag is permanently half-staffed.

Now, there are places where the flag does fly 24/7:

Presidential proclamations and laws authorize the display of the flag 24 hours a day at the following places:

Fort McHenry National Monument and Historic Shrine, Baltimore, Maryland (Presidential Proclamation No. 2795, July 2, 1948).

Flag House Square, Albemarle and Pratt Streets, Baltimore Maryland (Public Law 83-319, approved March 26, 1954).

United States Marine Corp Memorial (Iwo Jima), Arlington, Virginia (Presidential Proclamation No. 3418, June 12, 1961).

On the Green of the Town of Lexington, Massachusetts (Public Law 89-335, approved November 8, 1965).

The White House, Washington, DC. (Presidential Proclamation No. 4000, September 4, 1970).

Washington Monument, Washington, DC. (Presidential Proclamation No. 4064, July 6, 1971, effective July 4, 1971).

Fifty flags of the United States are displayed at the Washington Monument continuously.

United States Customs Ports of Entry which are continually open (Presidential Proclamation No. 413 1, May 5, 1972).

Grounds of the National Memorial Arch in Valley Forge State Park, Valley Forge, Pennsylvania (Public Law 94-53, approved July 4,1975).

Nick

[Peter Ansoff]

All,

I can verify from personal observation that the flags at Arlington are not flown half-staff 24/7. They observe the normal half-staffing provisions of the flag code, and they are also half-staffed when a funeral is in progress. Somewhere in my files I have a copy of the regulations that cover flag displays at Arlington -- I will dig them up when I get a chance.

Best to all,

Peter Ansoff