When do flags fly at half-staff (or half-mast)?

During a recent visit to Kent Town Hall, this reporter asked Town Clerk Darlene Brady why the flag outside was flying at half-staff. She referred the reporter to the town’s website at www.townofkentct.org, where there is a link called “flag update.”

It turned out the flag was flying at half-staff (or is it “half-mast?”) in honor of Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia, who died on Feb. 13. 

All national and state flags flew at half-staff from Feb. 13  until sunset on Saturday, Feb. 20.

According to the 2012 Associated Press stylebook, flags lowered on ships and naval stations are referred to as “half-mast.” All other flags ashore, when lowered, are described as “half-staff.” Due to the predominant lack of coastline in the Tri-state area, this article uses “half-staff.”

Upon further examination, this reporter quickly found a dizzying amount of information on U.S. flag protocol — the most authoritative source being Title 4, Chapter 1 of the U.S. House of Representative’s Code of Law (accessible at uscode.house.gov). 

This code has basically everything: civilian use, commercial use, times for display, positioning for display, manner of delivery of the Pledge of Allegiance to the flag and more. You name it, it’s there. 

The specificity of the Code, and even the fact that “Code” is capitalized, evokes in this reporter respect for an age-old authority but also contemplation of the meaning of patriotism.

Here are some of the Code’s laws, perhaps unknown to the mass public. Before authorized to lower a flag in a sign of respect, remembrance or mourning, the flag is to be hoisted to its peak height.

National flags are flown at half-staff on annual holidays including Peace Officer Memorial Day (May 15), Patriot Day (Sept. 11) and Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day (Dec. 7). On Memorial Day, the flag is to be displayed at half-staff until noon only, then lifted to the top.

Apart from these dates, either the president or state governor can give special requests for lowered flags in their respective territories.

Predominantly, these requests are made after the passing of government officials, members of the military and foreign dignitaries.

The U.S. Code limits its protocol to these aforementioned positions, however,  and does not address other notable positions in society.

In consequence, deciding who merits the lowering of state and national flags is often a matter of controversy.

As an example, veterans were reportedly angered when national flags were flown at half-staff for pop music icon Whitney Houston.

As modern scientific development invites more and more materialistic ways of thinking,  the U.S. flag poses a substantial exception. It is an object, weighing a mere few pounds depending on its size and fabric, filled with the weight of an unending story of symbolism.