Are flags supposed to be at half-staff??
Are flags supposed to be at half-staff??
#1Are flags supposed to be at half-staff??
Posted: 8/27/09 at 11:37am
On my way to work today I noticed that the flag at the post office was at half-staff but the flag at Chick-fil-A was raised to its full height. I asked Chick-fil-A about it and they said that their corporate office always informs them when to lower the flags to half-staff and that they hadn't been given any word to do so.
I assumed that the half-staff flag was a national 'requirement' once federal buildings do so...was I misinformed?
"The Spectacle has, indeed, an emotional attraction of its own, but, of all the parts, it is the least artistic, and connected least with the art of poetry. For the power of Tragedy, we may be sure, is felt even apart from representation and actors. Besides, the production of spectacular effects depends more on the art of the stage machinist than on that of the poet."
--Aristotle
--Aristotle
StockardFan
Broadway Legend Joined: 6/19/08
#2re: Are flags supposed to be at half-staff??
Posted: 8/27/09 at 11:49amI noticed that yesterday. The flag at the fire department was lowered but not at the retail establishments that had a flag. I wondered the same thing. I know there is a specific protocol to follow, but I'm not sure what it is.
KFTC!!!!!
Q
Broadway Legend Joined: 11/3/05
#2re: Are flags supposed to be at half-staff??
Posted: 8/27/09 at 12:11pm
"As a mark of respect for the memory of Senator Edward M. Kennedy, I hereby order, by the authority vested in me by the Constitution and laws of the United States of America, that the flag of the United States shall be flown at half-staff at the White House and upon all public buildings and grounds, at all military posts and naval stations, and on all naval vessels of the Federal Government in the District of Columbia and throughout the United States and its Territories and possessions until sunset on August 30, 2009."
This is part of the official proclamation, which only applies to flags on public grounds.
Gothampc
Broadway Legend Joined: 5/20/03
#3re: Are flags supposed to be at half-staff??
Posted: 8/27/09 at 12:12pmThere is no law that requires private citizens to do anything with their flag. It's strictly voluntary.
If anyone ever tells you that you put too much Parmesan cheese on your pasta, stop talking to them. You don't need that kind of negativity in your life.
StockardFan
Broadway Legend Joined: 6/19/08
#4re: Are flags supposed to be at half-staff??
Posted: 8/27/09 at 12:15pm
Thanks for the explanation.
I think they should do it out of respect but I guess if they don't have to, they don't have to.........
KFTC!!!!!
#5re: Are flags supposed to be at half-staff??
Posted: 8/27/09 at 12:16pm
In the United States, the President can issue an executive order for the flag of the United States to be flown at half-staff upon the death of principal figures of the United States government, and others, as a mark of respect to their memory. When such an order is issued, all government buildings, offices, public schools and military bases are to fly their flags at half-staff. Under federal law (4 U.S.C. § 7(f)), the flags of states, cities, localities, and pennants of societies, shall never be placed above the flag of the United States; thus, all other flags also fly at half-staff when the U.S. flag has been ordered to fly at half-staff.
ETA: Most private citizens don't have a flag pole in their yard so they're unable to fly at half-mast. I recall my father having a flag that just slid into a bracket attached to the house. It didn't have the ability to be hoisted. That being said I think retail establishments fall under the category of "offices" seeing that they are a place of business. IMO, if a retail etablishment has a flag pole then the flag should be at half-staff.
Half-staff
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Updated On: 8/27/09 at 12:16 PM
Q
Broadway Legend Joined: 11/3/05
#6re: Are flags supposed to be at half-staff??
Posted: 8/27/09 at 12:28pmI think it can only pertain to public buildings, not private.
#7re: Are flags supposed to be at half-staff??
Posted: 8/27/09 at 12:54pmYes, I think "government" is meant to modify "offices" as well; in other words, government offices.
Plum
Broadway Legend Joined: 3/4/04
#8re: Are flags supposed to be at half-staff??
Posted: 8/28/09 at 6:49pmAnything else would probably bring up free speech issues.
TheatreDiva90016
Broadway Legend Joined: 4/10/04
#9re: Are flags supposed to be at half-staff??
Posted: 8/28/09 at 7:05pmThis is all for Kennedy?
"TheatreDiva90016 - another good reason to frequent these boards less."<<>>
“I hesitate to give this line of discussion the validation it so desperately craves by perpetuating it, but the light from logic is getting further and further away with your every successive post.” <<>>
-whatever2
#10re: Are flags supposed to be at half-staff??
Posted: 8/29/09 at 4:08amIt's for DJ AM, diva.
....but the world goes 'round
TheatreDiva90016
Broadway Legend Joined: 4/10/04
#11re: Are flags supposed to be at half-staff??
Posted: 8/29/09 at 1:04pm
Okay, then.
lol
"TheatreDiva90016 - another good reason to frequent these boards less."<<>>
“I hesitate to give this line of discussion the validation it so desperately craves by perpetuating it, but the light from logic is getting further and further away with your every successive post.” <<>>
-whatever2
FindingNamo
Broadway Legend Joined: 7/22/03
#12re: Are flags supposed to be at half-staff??
Posted: 8/29/09 at 1:28pmFolding the flag means taking care of the nation.
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TheatreDiva90016
Broadway Legend Joined: 4/10/04
#13re: Are flags supposed to be at half-staff??
Posted: 8/29/09 at 3:26pm
I am falling into the flag...
"TheatreDiva90016 - another good reason to frequent these boards less."<<>>
“I hesitate to give this line of discussion the validation it so desperately craves by perpetuating it, but the light from logic is getting further and further away with your every successive post.” <<>>
-whatever2
Updated On: 8/29/09 at 03:26 PM
Madcap Maisie
Broadway Legend Joined: 7/10/08
#14re: Are flags supposed to be at half-staff??
Posted: 8/29/09 at 3:55pmChickfila here was halfstaff
"You know what really makes me mad? When girls think they can sing just because they are on the Disney Channel."
StockardFan
Broadway Legend Joined: 6/19/08
#15re: Are flags supposed to be at half-staff??
Posted: 8/29/09 at 6:05pmMost things here have now lowered their flags.
KFTC!!!!!
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