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Flag Education · Half-Staff
By Al Cavalari · Co-founder, The Flag Guys · Family-owned since 1977
Published May 15, 2026 · Updated May 15, 2026
When to Fly the Flag at Half-Staff
Quick answer
The U.S. flag flies at half-staff on five fixed federal observances each year — Memorial Day (sunrise to noon), Peace Officers Memorial Day (May 15), Patriot Day (September 11), National Fallen Firefighters Memorial Day (first Sunday of October), and Pearl Harbor Day (December 7) — plus any time the President or your state governor issues a proclamation.
Fixed federal half-staff observances
These are the dates established by federal law or long-standing congressional resolution. They apply automatically to federal buildings, military installations, and naval vessels — no proclamation needed. Private citizens and businesses may observe them voluntarily.
| Observance | Date | Half-staff period | Authority |
|---|---|---|---|
| Memorial Day | Last Monday of May | Sunrise to noon; full-staff noon to sunset | Federal law (36 U.S.C. § 116) |
| Peace Officers Memorial Day | May 15 | All day | Federal law (34 U.S.C. § 60101) |
| Patriot Day | September 11 | All day | Federal law (36 U.S.C. § 144) |
| National Fallen Firefighters Memorial Day | First Sunday of October | All day | Federal law (36 U.S.C. § 136) |
| Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day | December 7 | All day | Federal law (36 U.S.C. § 145) |
Memorial Day note: The half-staff period is sunrise to noon only. At noon, the flag is raised to full-staff for the remainder of the day as a sign of resolve to continue honoring veterans. Many private citizens and businesses fly at half-staff all day — that is a gesture of respect but does not match the official observance. See Al's Memorial Day flag etiquette answer for more detail.
Presidential proclamations
Beyond the fixed calendar, the President may order the U.S. flag to half-staff at any time by executive proclamation. These orders apply to all federal buildings, military installations, and naval vessels. They are issued for the deaths of high officials (former presidents, members of Congress, Supreme Court justices, Cabinet secretaries), national tragedies, and other occasions the President deems appropriate for national mourning.
The duration of presidential proclamations varies. For a former President, the tradition is 30 days. For a Vice President, the President pro tempore of the Senate, the Speaker of the House, or the Chief Justice, 10 days. For members of Congress, the day of death and the following day. For other occasions, the proclamation specifies the duration.
Proclamations are published on WhiteHouse.gov and in the Federal Register, but they often come with no advance notice. The fastest way to stay current is a dedicated alert service.
Free half-staff alerts — we monitor so you don't have to.
Presidential and NY State proclamations delivered to your inbox the moment they're issued. No cost, no spam.
Subscribe to half-staff alerts →State governor proclamations
State governors have authority to order the U.S. flag to half-staff within their state for the deaths of state officials, law enforcement officers, firefighters, military members killed in action, and other state-specific events. A governor's proclamation applies to state buildings and facilities — it does not extend to federal buildings or private property outside the state.
If you're in New York, our alerts cover NY State proclamations in addition to federal ones. For other states, the governor's official website and the state adjutant general's office are the most reliable sources. Many states also have dedicated half-staff notification pages.
Half-staff vs. half-mast
"Half-mast" technically refers to a flag flown halfway up a ship's mast. "Half-staff" refers to a flag on a stationary flagstaff on land. In official usage — the Flag Code, presidential proclamations, federal regulations — "half-staff" is the correct term for land-based flags. In everyday speech, most people use both terms interchangeably and are understood either way. If you're being precise, use "half-staff" for your residential or commercial flagpole.
Correct procedure for flying at half-staff
The procedure matters. You do not simply raise the flag to half-staff. The correct sequence:
- Raise the flag briskly to the peak (full-staff).
- Then lower it slowly and ceremonially to half-staff.
- At the end of the observance period, raise to full-staff before lowering it for the night (if you bring it in at dusk).
This sequence — up to full, then down to half — is the formal expression of the half-staff gesture. Raising the flag directly to half-staff, while understandable, skips this symbolic step.
For more on half-staff procedure, flag positioning at half-staff, and common questions about when half-staff applies, see our general information on half-staff in the Q&A archive.
What if your pole can't lower the flag?
Some flagpoles have fixed attachment hardware, internal halyard systems, or building-mounted brackets that prevent lowering the flag below a certain point. If your installation physically prevents half-staffing:
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Mourning ribbon or bow: Attaching a black ribbon or bow to the top of the staff is an accepted alternative when physical half-staffing is not possible. This is a recognized gesture of mourning in lieu of lowering the flag.
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Wall-mounted and building brackets: Flags on brackets perpendicular to a building cannot be lowered on those brackets. A mourning ribbon on the staff is appropriate. Some commercial installations choose to temporarily remove the flag entirely during short proclamations rather than display it incorrectly.
Al answered this directly in the Q&A archive: The flag should be at half-staff but the rope on my pole doesn't allow it — what do I do?
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between half-staff and half-mast?
Technically, 'half-mast' refers to a flag flown halfway up a ship's mast — the correct term for a ship or naval vessel. 'Half-staff' refers to a flag on a stationary flagstaff on land. In common use, the terms are interchangeable, and most people use them interchangeably without consequence. Formally, if you're on land, 'half-staff' is correct.
Can a private citizen or business fly at half-staff without a presidential proclamation?
Technically, only the President can order the U.S. flag to half-staff on federal property, and governors can order it for state properties. Private citizens and businesses may choose to fly their own flags at half-staff as a personal mark of respect — this is a gesture, not a legal obligation. It is not an official proclamation and others are not required to follow suit.
What is the correct procedure for lowering to half-staff?
The proper procedure is to first raise the flag to the peak (full-staff), then lower it ceremonially to half-staff. To raise it again, bring it back to the peak first, then lower it. You do not simply raise the flag to half-staff directly without going to full-staff first.
How do I know when a new presidential proclamation is issued?
Presidential proclamations are published in the Federal Register and on WhiteHouse.gov, but they often come with little or no advance notice. We monitor them continuously and offer free email alerts — sign up at flagguys.com/half-staff-alerts. Many proclamations are issued for unexpected events like the death of a former official or a national tragedy, sometimes with only hours of notice.
What if my flagpole rope doesn't allow me to lower the flag?
Some poles — particularly those with internal halyard systems, decorative poles, or building-mounted brackets — don't easily lower below a fixed height. In this case, an alternative way to show mourning is to attach a black mourning ribbon or bow to the top of the staff. This is an accepted alternative when physical half-staffing is not possible.
Does the state flag need to be lowered to half-staff when the U.S. flag is lowered?
When the U.S. flag is at half-staff by presidential proclamation, it's customary (and in many cases legally required for state entities) for the state flag to be lowered as well. The U.S. flag is always the primary flag and dictates the position; the state flag follows. On a single pole, if you must choose, the U.S. flag takes precedence.
Questions on half-staff protocol?
Call us at (845) 562-0088. We've been answering these questions since 1977.
Related reading
- When is the flag automatically half-staffed?
Al's answer on the full fixed observance calendar.
- Who can order the flag to be half-staffed?
The chain of authority from the President to the private citizen.
- What are the proper half-staff times for Memorial Day?
Sunrise to noon — what it means and why the flag goes back up.
- Current half-staff status →
Live status page — is the flag at half-staff today?