Know when to fly the U.S. flag at half-staff

As we celebrate Flag Day in June and Independence Day in July, a question the Americanism Division at National Headquarters often receives is when the flag is to be flown at half-staff. Days in the year that the flag is to be flown at half-staff include Memorial Day (May), Peace Officer Memorial Day (May), Patriot Day (Sept. 11), National Fallen Firefighters Memorial Service (October) and Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day (Dec. 7).

The flag is to be flown at full-staff on Armed Forces Day, Flag Day, Independence Day and Labor Day. “Unless your state governor or the president of the United States has a half-staff proclamation issued, the United States flag is to be displayed at full staff,” said Ann Byars, youth education and civics manager for the National Americanism Division, during The American Legion’s virtual Training Tuesday session May 24.

Want to be notified when the flag is to be flown at half-staff?

• Sign up for the Flag Alert e-newsletter at legion.org/newsletters for notification when the U.S. flag is to be displayed at half-staff.

Flag resources

• Visit legion.org/flag/resources to download dividual graphics on the U.S. Flag Code and Rally Around the Flag series that can be shared on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. 
• Order American-made flags at https://www.americanlegionflags.com/.
• Purchase “Let’s Be Right on Flag Etiquette” book here.
• Ask the flag expert a question.
• Find more flag resources at legion.org/flag.

Do you have a story about why the flag is important to you? Share it with us on  legiontown.org under the heading “Rally Around the Flag.”