NorthStar Flags

When should you raise a United States flag at half or full staff?

What does it mean when a flag is raised half-mast?

A flag that is half-mast  and half-staff is the same thing but when the United States flag is hoisted at half-staff then it must be first hoisted to the top of the flagpole and then dropped down to the middle.

Even though flags should be raised at full mast almost all of the time there are particular situation that makes it more suitable to fly it in half mast in some times of the year like death of a Justice, Congressman or President.

Though a half mast flag means flying it at half-staff out at sea, any United States flags hoisted at half must have the American flag at the pole’s middle point and all other flags such as city and state flags must be displayed under the midpoint.

American flags at certain holidays are displayed at this point at all government buildings.

The holidays include Patriot Day, Memorial Day, Officers Memorial Day, Korean War Veteran’s Day and Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day.

On the mentioned holidays, the American flags must be raised at half mast from daybreak up to sunset except on Memorial Day. During Memorial Day, United States flags must be raised until noon and then at full staff at that point until sunset in a half mast manner.

The representation behind this is that the half-mast is to honor those who have died during battles involving the United States and the full staff will honor those who are living and the entire nation.

Do you know how to decode the American flag? As per the Flag Code, flags are normally designed to be flown from a pole at full staff during day time and taken down during night time.

There are certain occasions that call for flying half mast American flags such as deaths of officials from executive and congressional houses of government-but it is not often that you see a flag flown upside down.

Having a flag turned upside down is not considered a sign of dishonor even though the Flag Codes specify that a flags m8ut not be turned backward in military uniform or hanging.

As per the Flag Code, a flag that is upside down is interpreted as a symbol of distress.

This is rarely seen however as considering this as a symbol of distress was used predominantly before 1900 on merchant and military ships.

In present times a flag that is turned upside down is also used as a sign of protest such as with the health care debate and not essentially for reasons of distress.

A recent example is the owner of a plant nursery in Arvada, Colorado who protested the current health care bill by turning his flag upside down so that his voice can be better heard.

However in some instances the American flags that are turned upside down can lead to misconception as recent happening near Los Angeles indicated.

A veteran had been protesting during Sundays outside the building of a VA hospital as he is against the hospital’s commercialization of the area.

The American flag differs considerably because Congress was not exact with the proportions, dimensions, stars or shapes patterns.

-According to legend, Betsy Ross sewed and designed the first ever American flag however many historians do not agree.

-The man who handsewn the first ever flag is not known however the man who designed it is known as Mr. Francis Hopkinson.

-A Flag Resolution which came out in the year 1777 was passed by the Second Continental Congress on the 14th of June in 1977 which makes the  Betsy Ross flag an official one. – It is currently commemorated every year and called it Flag Day.

-Only George Washington was the president to have served under this flag.

1777-1795

– The 15 Stars on the flag which features with 15 stripes to signify the 13 major states including Kentucky  and Vermont.

-It was created by  Ms. Mary Pickersgill together with her one daughter.

– The year 1812 had this flag was hoisted all over Fort McHenry, which led Francis Scott Key to compose the poem Star Spangled which was made into a song and later became America’s national anthem.

-The Smithsonian Institution’s National Museum of American History displays the US Flag.

-The officials who served under this particular flag are James Monroe, James Madison, George Washington, John Adams and Thomas Jefferson.

-The American flag with 20 stars is known as the   Flag of 1818 and also as Great Star Flag.

-The Flag Act of 1818 was passed by Congress to which they added five more stars on the flag and changed the stripes from 15 to 13.

-The five added stars stands for the states Tennessee, Ohio, Louisiana, Indiana, Mississippi.

-The US flag was created by Navy Captain Samuel Reid.

-James Monroe was the first and only president to reign under this particular flag between the years 1818 to 1819.

The American flags vary dramatically since Congress did not state exact proportions, dimensions, stars or shapes patterns.

-Betsy Ross according to legend was the first to design and sew the US flag but many historians disagree.

-The man who sewed the first flag might be unknown but the designer was known as Mr. Francis Hopkinson.

-On June in the year 1777, there was a Flag Resolution in the year 1777 which was passed by the Second Continental Congress which made the flag of Betsy Ross official. This is commemorated every year as  the Flag Day.

-George Washington was lone president to have served using this particular flag.

1777-1795

– The 15 Stars Star Spangled Banner which is embossed with 15 stars/stripes to  symbolize the 13 main states plus Kentucky & Vermont as additional.

-This design was made by Mary Pickersgill with the help of a daughter.

– In the year 1812 the US flag was raised through Fort McHenry, which prompted Francis Scott Key  to compose the Star Spangled poem which was made to a song and became America’s national anthem.H

-The Smithsonian Institution’s National Museum of American History exhibits the Star Spangled Banner.

– James Monroe, James Madison, George Washington, John Adams and Thomas Jefferson are the officials who served under this flag

-The American flag with 20 stars is known as the Great Star Flag and also as the Flag of 1818.

-The Flag Act of 1818 was passed by Congress in which the added five stars to the design on the flag and lowered the number of stripes to 13.

The states Tennessee, Ohio, Louisiana, Indiana, Mississippi symbolizes the five additional stars.

Navy Captain Samuel Reid designed the flag.

The only US president to have served under this flag was James Monroe between the years 1818 to 1819.