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Flying the Flag at Half-Mast

Posted on: December 28, 2006

By Robert Guymon
December 28, 2006

With the passing of former President Gerald Ford the United States flag is being flown at half-mast/half-staff. There are certain instances when the flag is flown in this manner. Title 36 of the United States Code of Federal Regulations specifies when a flag can be flown at half-mast.

President Dwight Eisenhower put forth a standard for displaying the flag at half-mast in 1954:
•30 days upon the death of a current or former President
•10 days upon the death of a Vice President, Chief Justice of the Supreme Court (current and former) and Speaker of the House
•Day of death until burial for Associate Justices of the Supreme Court, Secretary of Executive or Military Department, former Vice President, and Governor of State, Territory or possession
•Day of death and the next day for a member of Congress
•On Memorial Day from dawn until noon

Flying the flag at half-mast on Peace Officers Memorial Day May 15 was added in 1962. The President can order the flag to be displayed at half-mast to show respect for any American who has served the nation. The President can also order the flag be flown at half-mast to show respect after the death of foreign dignitaries. President George W. Bush ordered the flag be displayed at half-mast after the death of Pope John Paul II April 2, 2005.

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