Half-Staff Flags: Until Sunset 7/19 (Tuesday)

sidsmom · ‎11-25-2011

As a mark of respect for the victims of the
attack perpetrated on July 14, 2016, in Nice, France,
a President's Proclamation has been made to
immediately lower all American Flags to
Half-Staff until Sunset, 7/19 (Tuesday).

Winkk · ‎03-15-2010

You know I have mixed feelings about this. What is the protocol for lowering the flag to half staff? The number of people who died in the incident? Those killed by a terrorist?

How many of our military have died and the flag was never lowered for them. Was it because they were on active duty and that doesn't count?

My thoughts and prayers are with all those who have lost family members or friends due to war or any violence.

sidsmom · ‎11-25-2011

@Winkk wrote:
You know I have mixed feelings about this. What is the protocol for lowering the flag to half staff? The number of people who died in the incident? Those killed by a terrorist?

How many of our military have died and the flag was never lowered for them. Was it because they were on active duty and that doesn't count?

My thoughts and prayers are with all those who have lost family members or friends due to war or any violence.

@Winkk

Preaching to the choir here. I, too, have mixed feelings about this.

I just post the notifications 😉.

Here's an exerpt from an interesting article about the increase of half-staff frequencies throughout the years which might answer your questions:

http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2016/06/15/obama-flags-at-half-staff-proclamations/85891...

"The lowering of the flag in an order from the president of the United States is a symbolic expression of national mourning, and it certainly is a way, symbolically, to demonstrate that the country is united in our support for a community that's mourning," White House Press Secretary Josh Earnest said Wednesday. "I think what we also see is that over the course of generations, that symbolism is expressed in different ways."

Presidential scholars say Obama's use of such proclamations show an evolution of the presidential "soft power" as comforter in chief into a more formal and visible display of national sorrow.

"Especially during partisan times, when there's polarization among the American people, presidents are seeking a way to find a mechanism to unify people," said Brandon Rottinghaus, a professor at the University of Houston who tracks presidential proclamations. "This allows him to connect on an emotional level rather than a political or a policy level."

Lila Belle · ‎01-24-2013

France is our oldest ally.

scotnovel · ‎12-31-2013

@Winkk wrote:
You know I have mixed feelings about this. What is the protocol for lowering the flag to half staff? The number of people who died in the incident? Those killed by a terrorist?

How many of our military have died and the flag was never lowered for them. Was it because they were on active duty and that doesn't count?

My thoughts and prayers are with all those who have lost family members or friends due to war or any violence.

In general the law related to displaying the flag includes a number of specific reasons that the flag is supposed to be lowered to half staff. However, according to the following which came from a report to Congress on the laws regarding display of the flag:

"The Federal Flag Code does not purport to cover all possible situations." The code also "empowers the President of the United States to alter, modify, repeal, or prescribe additional rules regarding the flag."

There is plenty of precedent for a president to order the flag lowered (Clinton did it 50 times, G.W Bush 58, and so far Obama has done it 60+ times). Bush, for example, was the first to use the flag to mark tragedies caused by natural disasters, including Indian Ocean tsunamis and Hurricane Katrina in 2005.

Krimpette · ‎03-09-2010

I undertand the symbolism with lowering the flag after various tragedies. It's very sad to me, however, that we are requested to lower flags so much more often these days. One tragedy after another. Scary times.

My heart aches for France and those who died or were injured in this dreadful event. I sure wish the madness would stop.