[Ariel_Thomann]

I understand there are just a few places where the US flag must be permanently (24/7?) displayed at half staff.
The ones I know are Arlington National Cemetery, USS Arizona Memorial in Pearl Harbor, and the Treue Der Union Monument in Comfort, Texas. Where are the others?

[Peter Ansoff]

Hello, Ariel!

Actually, the flag is not half-staffed 24/7 at either Arlington Cemetery or the USS Arizona Memorial. Both of those locations follow normal half-masting regulations. The flag is also half-staffed at Arlington when a funeral is conducted.

I've heard it said that Congress authorized the flag to be permanently half-staffed at the Treue Der Union Monument, but I've never seen any actual evidence of this. Do you happen to have a reference to when and how this was done?

The US Code does not specify any locations at which the flag is permanently half-staffed. Of course, if someone wants to do so on his/her own initiative, nobody is going to stop them.

Peter Ansoff

[Ariel_Thomann]

Peter: no, I don't have anything besides hearsay. I will probably be able to spend a few hours in Comfort in September, hope to explore whatever they have in their city library, or perhaps City Hall.
Ariel

[Robin Hickman]

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Hello, Ariel !

Welcome to the USA-Flag-Site forums !


I first heard of this "permanent" half-staffing 3 or 4 years ago (maybe 5), but I was never able to "track down" the source. There were (are?) a number of sites that mentioned the "Treue Der Union Monument" in Comfort, Texas as being one of four (or three, or five, or six, or...) places that were/are "authorized" by Congress to fly an American Flag at Half-Staff 24/7 in perpetuity.

The date of the Congressional action that was/is most mentioned is 1991, which would make it the 102nd Congress.

I was never able to find any "source" documentation for the half-staff 24/7 claim. I am NOT saying that there isn't any. I'm just saying that if it did (or does) exist, I was unable to find it.

Of course, I should probably also mention that I NEVER tried contacting the Library of Congress, the City of Comfort, Texas, the Comfort Chamber of Commerce, the Comfort Historical Society, the "Treue Der Union Monument" historical group, or any of the many similar STATE historical institutions or organizations.

So I guess IF somebody wanted to make a few long-distance phone calls during regular weekday operating hours.....


Thank You for bringing your Flag-related question to our Forums, Ariel !


Robin "A Man Has Got To Know His GOOGLE Limitations!" Hickman
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[Peter Ansoff]

I will probably be able to spend a few hours in Comfort in September, hope to explore whatever they have in their city library, or perhaps City Hall.

That's great, Ariel! Please be sure to let us know the results of your research. If there really was some official action on this, we should get it documented somewhere -- maybe in item in "NAVA News."

There were (are?) a number of sites that mentioned the "Treue Der Union Monument" in Comfort, Texas as being one of four (or three, or five, or six, or...) places that were/are "authorized" by Congress to fly an American Flag at Half-Staff 24/7 in perpetuity.

There was an article in the NAVA journal "Raven" in 1998 that compiled references to all federal legislation concering the US flag. There were no citations at all of any laws involving 24/7 half-staffing. I have a feeling that it's an urban legend. There are several pieces of legislation stating that the flag will fly 24/7 at specified locations, and someone may have confused these with the half-staff issue.

Peter Ansoff

[Robin Hickman]

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Greetings !


Or, perhaps, it was something that was done at one time (way-back-when) by the Texas State Legislature, and some people got confused by the process and credited the U.S. Congress with conferring the 24/7 "half-staff" designation ???


Who knows ???


This looks like a job for "SUPER SNOPES" !!!


Robin
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[Peter Ansoff]

perhaps, it was something that was done at one time (way-back-when) by the Texas State Legislature

That doesn't seem too likely -- in fact, it might actually be unconstitutional. The flag code gives state Governors the power to direct half-staffing in certain situations, but I doubt that that would cover this one.

Peter Ansoff

[camrannie]

I've been on a tour of Mackinac Island, MI several times. In this tour you go by the Post cemetary where the flag is permanently at half staff. In each tour the guide explaines that there are five places on US "Soil" where it has been permitted.

I have searched other places and these five are always come up.

Post Cemetary On Mackinac Island, MI
Arlington, VA
Pearl Harbor,
Gettysburg
Normundy, France

now I am not saying they are up 24/7. I am saying that there is one flag that when it is up through the day it is flown at Half Staff.

[Peter Ansoff]

Greetings, camrannie, welcome to the forum!

I am saying that there is one flag that when it is up through the day it is flown at Half Staff.

Well, I can say from personal observation that the flags at Arlington and at the Arizona memorial at Pearl Harbor are not normally half-staffed -- they follow the normal schedule directed by the flag code. The flags at Arlington are also half-staffed when a funeral is actually in progress, but not at other times. Also, this photo on the Battle Monuments Commision site:

American Battle Monuments Commission

Shows the flags at the American cemetery in Normandy flying at full staff.

As far as I know, there is no law or regulation that directs permanently half-staffing the flag at any location. Next time you're at Mackinac Island, you might ask the tourguides what the source is for their information.

Best,

Peter Ansoff

[lorenrhoads]

Originally Posted by Peter Ansoff

As far as I know, there is no law or regulation that directs permanently half-staffing the flag at any location. Next time you're at Mackinac Island, you might ask the tourguides what the source is for their information.

I'm also researching the half-mast flag at Mackinac Island. The Mackinac State Historic Parks leaflet about the Post Cemetery says:

"Early risers can watch the scouts raise the flag every summer morning. In keeping with a long-standing local tradition, the flag is permanently flown at half staff to honor the memories of those buried below."

So perhaps it's a local tradition?

Contradicting that, however, 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."

If you can help me get the story straight, I'd appreciate it.