Fire Prevention Week Flag Etiquette

Fire Prevention Week ... 4) Fire Prevention Week : Sunrise to sunset. It is a tad complex. For Memorial Day and September 11, the legislation includes specific instructions on when to half-staff the flag. With fire prevention week, Public Law 107-51 states: "Resolved by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled , That each year, the American flags on all Federal office buildings will be lowered to half-staff in honor of the National Fallen Firefighters Memorial Service in Emmitsburg, Maryland." Then, The President issues a proclamation saying which date the flag gets half staffed. The 2008 proclamation "NOW, THEREFORE, I, GEORGE W. BUSH, President of the United States of America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim October 5 through October 11, 2008, as Fire Prevention Week. On Sunday, October 5, 2008, in accordance with Public Law 107-51, the flag of the United States will be flown at half staff on all Federal office buildings in honor of the National Fallen Firefighters Memorial Service. I call on all Americans to participate in this observance through appropriate programs and activities and by renewing their efforts to prevent fires and their tragic consequences." The 2002 proclamation - Notice once again the time honored tradition whereby The President may not order the flags of private citizens to half staff. He "invites" the people of the United States to participate in the observance by half staffing their flags. "NOW, THEREFORE, I, GEORGE W. BUSH, President of the United States of America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim October 6 through October 12, 2002, as Fire Prevention Week. On Sunday, October 6, 2002, pursuant to Public Law 107-51, flags will be flown at half-staff on all Federal office buildings in honor of the National Fallen Firefighters Memorial Service. I invite the people of the United States to participate in this observance by flying our Nation's flag over their homes at half-staff on this day, to mark this week with appropriate programs and activities, and to renew efforts throughout the year to prevent fires and their tragic consequences."