[ SSweeney pic, taken in April 2020, of small flag waving in front of the Highlands Ranch ranch with snow-covered Longs Peak in distance ]
Welcome to today's Half-Staff Alerts and Lessons from Our Flag for Friday, April 7th.
There are Governor-directed half-staff orders across Iowa, Illinois, Tennessee, Massachusetts, and parts of Ohio.
There are Governor-directed half-staff orders across Iowa, Illinois, Tennessee, Massachusetts, and parts of Ohio.
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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Today's Lesson from Our Flag recalls ...
[ public domain image of US stamp ]
On this date, April 7th of 1940, the first US stamp honoring an African-American was published. It featured Booker T. Washington - an American educator, author, speaker, and advisor to several U.S. Presidents. He was the leading voice of former slaves and brought awareness to black Americans new oppression (post-Reconstruction era) in the South. He founded the National Negro Business League and served as Principal at the Tuskegee Institute - where African-Americans were given a unique opportunity for an advanced education in the South.
On this date, April 7th of 1940, the first US stamp honoring an African-American was published. It featured Booker T. Washington - an American educator, author, speaker, and advisor to several U.S. Presidents. He was the leading voice of former slaves and brought awareness to black Americans new oppression (post-Reconstruction era) in the South. He founded the National Negro Business League and served as Principal at the Tuskegee Institute - where African-Americans were given a unique opportunity for an advanced education in the South.
[ public domain image of Booker T. Washington with President Theodore Roosevelt at Tuskegee Institute in 1905 ]
Half-Staff Alerts & Honorees for April 7
*** 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.
All Flags across IOWA (IA: Apr. 7): Iowa's Governor ordered all (US & State) Flags at government / public facilities across the state, to half-staff, from sunrise to sunset on Fri., Apr. 7, the date of his interment, in honor and remembrance of Willard “Sandy” Boyd who served as the University of Iowa’s president from 1969 to 1981 and then served as interim president in 2002 and 2003. Boyd was also a member of the University of Iowa law faculty. He died December 13, 2022 in Iowa city at the age of 95. Boyd dedicated a majority of his life to the University of Iowa. CLICK HERE to read the Governor's Flag order.
[ Note: To receive a Back-to-Full-Staff text alert for this order and all future Iowa Governor (and US President) Flag orders = GO CLICK HERE ]
[ Note: To receive a Back-to-Full-Staff text alert for this order and all future Iowa Governor (and US President) Flag orders = GO CLICK HERE ]
All Flags across ILLINOIS (IL: Apr. 5 - 10): Illinois' Governor ordered all (US & State) Flags at all government / public facilities across Illinois to half-staff, on Wed., Apr. 5 until sunset on Mon., Apr. 10, in honor and remembrance of Chicago Fire Department's Firefighter / EMT Jermaine Pelt, who died in the line of duty. 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 Illinois 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 Illinois Governor (and US President) Flag orders = GO CLICK HERE ]
All (US & State) Flags atop Ohio Statehouse, Vern Riffe Center, and Rhodes State Officer Tower and across Hamilton County, OHIO (OH: Apr. 1 until TBD) Ohio's Governor, at approximately 8pm EST on Sat., Apr. 1st, ordered all Flags atop the Statehouse, Vern Riffe Center, and Rhodes State Officer Tower, and across Hamilton County (and all other public buildings across the state may join at their discretion) to half-staff until sunset on the date of the second of the two funerals (Apr. 6 for Officer Unwin and Apr. 15 for Mr. Dunson), in honor of the life and service of Springfield Township Police Officer Tim Unwin and the life of William Dunson, a civilian killed in the two car crash. CLICK HERE to see the Governor's Flag order. GO HERE (forthcoming) to read about the funeral services.
[ Note: To receive a Back-to-Full-Staff text alert for this order and all future Ohio Governor (and US President) Flag orders = GO CLICK HERE ]
[ Note: To receive a Back-to-Full-Staff text alert for this order and all future Ohio Governor (and US President) Flag orders = GO CLICK HERE ]
All Flags across TENNESSEE (TN: Mar. 27 - Apr. 7): 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. Additionally, Governor Lee has also ordered flags to be lowered in memory of the 9 soldiers of the Army’s 101st Airborne Division, who perished when two HH-60 Black Hawk helicopters crashed on March 29, 2023, during a routine training mission in Kentucky, and for individuals across Tennessee who were affected by devastating storms on March 31, 2023, including 15 Tennesseans who lost their lives.. CLICK HERE to read the Governor's Flag order. GO HERE to see the additional half-staff order for crash and storm victims.
[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 Flags across MASSACHUSETTS (MA: Mar. 29 - Apr. 11) Massachusetts' Governor ordered, on Wed., Mar. 29, all (US & State) Flags at government / public facilities across the state, to half-staff until Tue., Apr. 11, the date of his interment, 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 ]
Upcoming Half-Staffs
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:
[Cover of U.S. Government Publication]
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.
Flag Steward (formerly known as Beacon of Honor and originally incorporated as GivingVu.org, Inc. in 2013) is a nonpartisan, student-inspired, Veteran-led 501(c)(3) tax-deductible nonprofit organization based in Highlands Ranch, Colorado. Tax ID# 46-2457373
