[ SSweeney pic at Flag Steward HQ in March 2019 ]
[ Citizens read on ... while students can perform and/or listen to their teacher read the daily 'Half-Staff alerts and Lessons from Our Flag' text below in RED ]
[ Citizens read on ... while students can perform and/or listen to their teacher read the daily 'Half-Staff alerts and Lessons from Our Flag' text below in RED ]
Welcome to today's Half-Staff Alerts and Lessons from Our Flag for Friday, March 31st.
There is a President-ordered National Half-Staff until sunset on Friday, March 31st.
There is a President-ordered National Half-Staff until sunset on Friday, March 31st.
Keep SCROLLING down to review the Half-Staff alerts details and honoree pics, any UPCOMING national and state Half-Staff alerts, and info on our member-only half-staff and back-to-full-staff text alerts for your state and USA.
National and State-Targeted Half-Staff & Back-to-Full-Staff TEXT ALERTS
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- a subscriber-only service from the Flag Steward nonprofit
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Half-Staff Alerts & Honorees for March 31
*** Reminder: The Flag orders, by government officials (President, Governor, etc.) are for flags at government facilities within that official's jurisdiction. Citizens are encouraged, but not required to follow the orders.
*** Reminder: The Flag orders, by government officials (President, Governor, etc.) are for flags at government facilities within that official's jurisdiction. Citizens are encouraged, but not required to follow the orders.
National Half-Staff for The Covenant School Shooting Victims
The President ordered, on the evening of Monday, March 27th, the U.S. Flag to HALF-STAFF across the USA and its territories until sunset on Friday, March, 31st, "as a mark of respect for the victims of the senseless acts of violence perpetrated on March 27, 2023, in Nashville, Tennessee." GO HERE to read the Presidential Proclamation.
[Note: To receive a Back-to-Full-Staff text alert for this order and all future Flag orders from your Governor and the US President = GO CLICK HERE ]
The President ordered, on the evening of Monday, March 27th, the U.S. Flag to HALF-STAFF across the USA and its territories until sunset on Friday, March, 31st, "as a mark of respect for the victims of the senseless acts of violence perpetrated on March 27, 2023, in Nashville, Tennessee." GO HERE to read the Presidential Proclamation.
[Note: To receive a Back-to-Full-Staff text alert for this order and all future Flag orders from your Governor and the US President = GO CLICK HERE ]
Governor-directed Half-Staff orders concurrent with the National Half-Staff order:
All Flags across MASSACHUSETTS (MA: Mar. 29 - TBD) Massachusetts' Governor ordered, on Wed., Mar. 29, all (US & State) Flags at government / public facilities across the state, to half-staff until the date of his interment (TBD), in honor of the life and legacy of former State Representative Melvin Herbert King, a civil rights icon, who passed away on March 28, 2023. CLICK HERE to read the Governor's Flag order.
[Note: To receive a Back-to-Full-Staff text alert for this order at sunset and all future Massachusetts Governor (and US President) Flag orders = GO CLICK HERE ]
[Note: To receive a Back-to-Full-Staff text alert for this order at sunset and all future Massachusetts Governor (and US President) Flag orders = GO CLICK HERE ]
All Flags across MISSISSIPPI (MS: Mar. 29 - 31) Mississippi's Governor ordered, on Wed., Mar. 29, all (US & State) Flags at government / public facilities across the state, to half-staff until sunset on Fri., Mar. 31, in honor of the 21 Mississippians who tragically lost their lives due to the devastating tornadoes as well as the victims of the school shooting in Tennessee. CLICK HERE to read the Governor's Flag order.
[Note: To receive a Back-to-Full-Staff text alert for this order at sunset and all future Mississippi Governor (and US President) Flag orders = GO CLICK HERE ]
[Note: To receive a Back-to-Full-Staff text alert for this order at sunset and all future Mississippi Governor (and US President) Flag orders = GO CLICK HERE ]
All Flags across TENNESSEE (TN: Mar. 27 - TBD): Tennessee's Governor ordered all (US & State) Flags at all state government / public facilities immediately to half-staff until further notice (TBD), until further notice, in memory of the victims of the tragic shooting at the Covenant Presbyterian School on March 27, 2023, and in honor of the families, students, school faculty and church community impacted by this senseless act of violence. CLICK HERE to read the Governor's Flag order.
[Note: To receive a Back-to-Full-Staff text alert for this order at sunset and all future Tennessee Governor (and US President) Flag orders = GO CLICK HERE ]
[Note: To receive a Back-to-Full-Staff text alert for this order at sunset and all future Tennessee Governor (and US President) Flag orders = GO CLICK HERE ]
All Commonwealth (State) Flags across PENNSYLVANIA (PA: Mar. 27 - 31): Pennsylvania's Governor ordered, on Monday, Mar. 27th, morning, all Commonwealth (State) flags at all state / public / government facilities across the state to half-staff, immediately until sunset on Fri., Mar. 31st, in honor of the victims of the explosion that took place on Friday, March 24, at the RM Palmer Company in West Reading, Pennsylvania. CLICK HERE to see the Flag order info.
[Note: To receive a Back-to-Full-Staff text alert for this order and all future Flag orders in Pennsylvania and across USA = GO CLICK HERE ]
[Note: To receive a Back-to-Full-Staff text alert for this order and all future Flag orders in Pennsylvania and across USA = GO CLICK HERE ]
Upcoming Half-Staffs
All Flags across ALABAMA (AL: Apr. 3): Alabama's Governor ordered all (US & State) Flags at all government / public facilities across the state to half-staff, from sunrise to sunset, on Mon., Apr. 3, the date of his interment, to honor Huntsville Police Department Officer Garrett Crumby, who was shot and killed in the line of duty on Tue., Mar. 28th. CLICK HERE to read the Governor's Flag order.
[Note: To receive a Back-to-Full-Staff text alert for this order at sunset and all future Alabama Governor (and US President) Flag orders = GO CLICK HERE ]
[Note: To receive a Back-to-Full-Staff text alert for this order at sunset and all future Alabama Governor (and US President) Flag orders = GO CLICK HERE ]
GO CLICK HERE to see the completed National and State Half-Staff Orders in 2023
Half-Staff Flag Etiquette (Procedures):
Flag-raising at sunrise = hoist the Flags to full staff, then lower slowly, respectfully to half-staff
Flag-lowering at sunset = hoist Flags up from half-staff back to full-staff, then lower slowly, respectfully all the way down for removal
Flag-raising at sunrise = hoist the Flags to full staff, then lower slowly, respectfully to half-staff
Flag-lowering at sunset = hoist Flags up from half-staff back to full-staff, then lower slowly, respectfully all the way down for removal
Stars & Stripes Flag Etiquette:
The U.S. Flag Code:
provides Our Flag's Rules and Regulations (CLICK HERE for full details)
[HIGHLIGHTS OF: The U.S. Flag Code stating how citizens should conduct themselves during this ceremony is below.]
Title 36, Chapter 10 PATRIOTIC CUSTOMS
National anthem; Star-Spangled Banner, conduct during playing:
During rendition of the national anthem when the flag is displayed, all present except those in uniform should stand at attention facing the flag with the right hand over the heart. Men not in uniform should remove their headdress with their right hand and hold it at the left shoulder, the hand being over the heart. Persons in uniform should render the military salute at the first note of the anthem and retain this position until the last note. When the flag is not displayed, those present should face toward the music and act in the same manner they would if the flag were displayed there.
Note: A new law was passed on October 30, 2008 that authorizes veterans and active-duty military not in uniform can now render the military-style hand salute during the playing of the national anthem. This publication is currently being updated to reflect the new law.
Pledge of Allegiance to the flag; manner of delivery:
The Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag, "I pledge allegiance to the Flag of the United States of America, and to the Republic for which it stands, one Nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.", should be rendered by standing at attention facing the flag with the right hand over the heart. When not in uniform men should remove their headdress with their right hand and hold it at the left shoulder, the hand being over the heart. Persons in uniform should remain silent, face the flag, and render the military salute.