Half-Staff Flags
I was driving to work yesterday and noticed some flags that were flying at half-staff. I never watch the news, so I acknowledge that I have no idea what's going on. I see flags at half-staff and I think, "Oh my God! Is there a national disaster?" Because I was taught you fly the flag at half staff if the President is shot or something like that. It's not supposed to be just for ordinary things like somebody is having a bad day or sick or something, right?
Well today I noticed they are still at half-staff. Why? I still don't know. I even looked at the news and there is nothing listed. I am annoyed by this, so I look it up online. Nothing.
But the flag code says it's supposed to mean something, like it's Veteran's Day or Pearl Harbor Day or an important national figure died or a national disaster has occurred. On the list of days to fly the flag at half staff is Patriots Day (Sept. 11th). Did you know that 9/11 is Patriots Day?
I asked my husband and he said he's known people to put the flag at half staff for personal grief such as a family member dying or something. I think that's inappropriate, but there is a website that says:
"In additional to the traditional half-staff salutes when proclaimed by the President, the Flag Code mentions the use of our Flag for honoring citizens who have died, especially government officials and prominent citizens. However, the Flag Code does not exclude any citizen, whether a they belong to an organization or not, whether they recognized very locally or regionally. Examples of deceased citizens that might be honored with by lowering the Flag to half-staff include local religious leaders, youth leaders, honored teachers or sports coaches, local politicians, or a local hero. There need be no authorization from the government for the private sector (non-government) to use the Flag to honor any citizen. It is important to note that the Flag Code is a code, not a Law, it is intended to provide guidance and is not obligatory. It carries no civil or criminal penalties for "misuse" of the Flag. Individual are not acting illegally when using the Flag according to their own usage. Only on government / public building is the flagcode required to be followed."
I think that's just not right. I know I'm sensitive and all but I think the codes listed on the Army Student website are right. I'm not normally conservative and I know it's "just a symbol" but there is a reason for the symbol. I could go on about it myself but I found someone else who already said it better.
Well today I noticed they are still at half-staff. Why? I still don't know. I even looked at the news and there is nothing listed. I am annoyed by this, so I look it up online. Nothing.
But the flag code says it's supposed to mean something, like it's Veteran's Day or Pearl Harbor Day or an important national figure died or a national disaster has occurred. On the list of days to fly the flag at half staff is Patriots Day (Sept. 11th). Did you know that 9/11 is Patriots Day?
I asked my husband and he said he's known people to put the flag at half staff for personal grief such as a family member dying or something. I think that's inappropriate, but there is a website that says:
"In additional to the traditional half-staff salutes when proclaimed by the President, the Flag Code mentions the use of our Flag for honoring citizens who have died, especially government officials and prominent citizens. However, the Flag Code does not exclude any citizen, whether a they belong to an organization or not, whether they recognized very locally or regionally. Examples of deceased citizens that might be honored with by lowering the Flag to half-staff include local religious leaders, youth leaders, honored teachers or sports coaches, local politicians, or a local hero. There need be no authorization from the government for the private sector (non-government) to use the Flag to honor any citizen. It is important to note that the Flag Code is a code, not a Law, it is intended to provide guidance and is not obligatory. It carries no civil or criminal penalties for "misuse" of the Flag. Individual are not acting illegally when using the Flag according to their own usage. Only on government / public building is the flagcode required to be followed."
I think that's just not right. I know I'm sensitive and all but I think the codes listed on the Army Student website are right. I'm not normally conservative and I know it's "just a symbol" but there is a reason for the symbol. I could go on about it myself but I found someone else who already said it better.