[ SSweeney pic, taken in April 2021, of US Flag with moon setting behind Colorado Front Range (Continental Divide) mountains ]
Welcome to today's Half-Staff Alerts and Lessons from Our Flag for Wednesday, April 12th.
There are Governor-directed half-staff orders across Kentucky, Alabama, Illinois, and parts of Ohio.
There are Governor-directed half-staff orders across Kentucky, Alabama, Illinois, 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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Today's Lesson from Our Flag recalls ...
[ public domain image ]
On this date, April 12th of 1981, the Space Shuttle Columbia, NASA flight mission STS-1 (Space Transportation System - flight #1), launched from Kennedy Space Center in Florida. This marked another first in the world - humans flying a reusable spacecraft that would be rocketed into orbit around Earth and then return by flying like an airplane to land on a runway and be used for future space missions. Over the next 30 years, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, better known as NASA, would complete 135 Space Shuttle missions that empowered 355 astronauts to work on the International Space Station, Hubble Telescope, and other labs and satellites.
On this date, April 12th of 1981, the Space Shuttle Columbia, NASA flight mission STS-1 (Space Transportation System - flight #1), launched from Kennedy Space Center in Florida. This marked another first in the world - humans flying a reusable spacecraft that would be rocketed into orbit around Earth and then return by flying like an airplane to land on a runway and be used for future space missions. Over the next 30 years, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, better known as NASA, would complete 135 Space Shuttle missions that empowered 355 astronauts to work on the International Space Station, Hubble Telescope, and other labs and satellites.
Half-Staff Alerts & Honorees for April 12
*** 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.
![Picture](/uploads/1/0/3/4/103440882/published/320px-flag-of-kentucky_28.png)
All Flags across KENTUCKY (KY: Apr. 10 - 14): Kentucky's Governor ordered all (US & State) Flags at all state government / public facilities to half-staff, until sunset on Fri, Apr. 14, in honor and remembrance of the victims of violence perpetrated on the morning of April 10 in Louisville. 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 Kentucky 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 Kentucky Governor (and US President) Flag orders = GO CLICK HERE ]
![Picture](/uploads/1/0/3/4/103440882/published/screenshot-2023-04-09-5-50-02-pm_3.png)
All Flags across ALABAMA (AL: Apr. 10 - 12): Alabama's Governor ordered all (US & State) Flags at all government / public facilities across the state to half-staff, from sunrise on Mon., Apr. 10 to sunset, on Wed., Apr. 12, to honor Life Saver 4 (helicopter ambulance) crew members, Adam Russell (left pic) and Marc Gann, who were killed in a line of duty crash. 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 ]
![Picture](/uploads/1/0/3/4/103440882/published/screenshot-2023-04-10-at-12-10-58-pm_2.png)
All Flags across ILLINOIS (IL: Apr. 9 - 13): Illinois' Governor ordered all (US & State) Flags at all government / public facilities across Illinois to half-staff, on Sun., Apr. 9 until sunset on Thu., Apr. 13, in honor and remembrance of Chicago Fire Department's Lieutenant Jan Tchoryk, 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 ]
![Picture](/uploads/1/0/3/4/103440882/published/unwin-dunson_9.jpeg)
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 ]
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:
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.