Half staff flasgs?

[backdraft663]

Why have the flags been at half staff latelly? Anyone have a vlue someone asked me if I noticed it and I did.

[SAFD46Truck]

one word.....tsunami.

[arhaney]

I think because of the Tsunami victims...........Ours is at half staff for a different reason.

[ThNozzleman]

The White House ordered them to half-mast in honor of the people who died in the tsunomi disaster. Our city hall blatantly ignored the order. Some flags in the city were at half-mast, some were not. I do think that this was a very unusual order, as I don't think the disaster fit the usual requirements.

[backdraft663]

Thanks, just been wondering, I never thought of that, But why do they do it, have they ever done it before? Also ours is at half for another reason. If they do it because of that then they should do it everytime someone dies in a tornado or flood or something, I think its very odd.

[arhaney]

A quick search brings this:


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, the Governor of that State, territory, or possession may proclaim that the National flag shall be flown at half-staff. 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 -

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;

the term "executive or military department" means any agency listed under sections 101 and 102 of title 5, United States Code; and

the term "Member of Congress" means a Senator, a Representative, a Delegate, or the Resident Commissioner from Puerto Rico.
From:http://www.ushistory.org/betsy/flagetiq.html

[sassy1]

Originally posted by backdraft663
Thanks, just been wondering, I never thought of that, But why do they do it, have they ever done it before? Also ours is at half for another reason. If they do it because of that then they should do it everytime someone dies in a tornado or flood or something, I think its very odd.

Why is your flag at half?

[backdraft663]

Originally posted by sassy1


Why is your flag at half?

Our Assistant Chief passed away.

[arhaney]

We just lost a founding member of our VFD.

http://cms.firehouse.com/content/art...Id=46&id=38187

[COFire]

I personally don't agree with flying the flag at half staff for the tsunami victims.

It's never been ordered to be at half staff to honor all the AMERICANS who have been killed in the war.

Oh wait, don't tell me, they have to wait for veterans day to get their recognition.

[DennisTheMenace]

Originally posted by COFire
I personally don't agree with flying the flag at half staff for the tsunami victims.

It's never been ordered to be at half staff to honor all the AMERICANS who have been killed in the war.

Oh wait, don't tell me, they have to wait for veterans day to get their recognition.

The flag is lowered every Memorial Day and Veterans Day for those that have served and lost their lives. Nations all over the world lowered their flags after 9-11, it is the right thing to do to lower ours now.
Semper Fi,
Dennis

[cellblock]

The flag at my station is still at full mast. We must not have gotten the Tsunami memo. Opps.

[distchief60b]

Would not expect anything different from you cellblock! (You are such a radical!)

Seriously, I read that the Presicdent ordered them down for all government victims of the tsunami, but I thought what I read was from that Friday until Monday (for the weekend). They still continue to be down in some places and up in others.

In any case, I also feel it is appropriate for us to do so as someone pointed out. All other nations dropped their flags after our tragedy and it is only fitting for us to pay the same tribute.

[j2brown]

Originally posted by cellblock
The flag at my station is still at full mast. We must not have gotten the Tsunami memo. Opps.

On a serious note: I've often wondered what the official notification channel is for lowering flags to half staff. Is somebody in the organization responsible for keeping up with all Presidential/state/etc proclamations? Can someone here educate me a bit?

jeff
sdg

[DennisTheMenace]

Originally posted by j2brown


On a serious note: I've often wondered what the official notification channel is for lowering flags to half staff. Is somebody in the organization responsible for keeping up with all Presidential/state/etc proclamations? Can someone here educate me a bit?

jeff
sdg

Just listen to the news or read the newspaper.