[ SSweeney pic, taken in April 2020, of US Flag & US Marine Corps flag flying at Flag Steward HQ ]
Welcome to today's Half-Staff Alerts and Lessons from Our Flag for Sunday, April 16th.
There are Governor-directed half-staff orders across South Carolina and Virginia for all flags and across Maryland for just their state flag.
There are Governor-directed half-staff orders across South Carolina and Virginia for all flags and across Maryland for just their state flag.
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
- a subscriber-only service from the Flag Steward nonprofit
- a subscriber-only service from the Flag Steward nonprofit
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to get a one-time, LIFETIME subscription for NATIONAL and STATE-TARGETED Half-Staff & Back-to-Full-Staff TEXT ALERTS (just $5 tax-deductible donation).
Half-Staff Alerts & Honorees for April 16
*** 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 VIRGINIA (VA: on Apr. 16): Virginia's Governor ordered all flags at government / public facilities across VA to half-staff, from sunrise to sunset on Sun., Apr. 16, in respect and memory of the victims of the 2007 Virginia Tech shooting, their families, and the entire Virginia Tech community, on this the 16th anniversary of the tragedy. CLICK HERE to read about the Governor's order.
All Flags across SOUTH CAROLINA (SC: Apr. 16): South Carolina's Governor ordered, at approximately 1pm EST on Sun., Apr. 16, all (US & State) Flags at government / public facilities atop the State Capitol and across the state to half-staff until sunset today, Sun., Apr. 16, in honor of two honorees - in honor of former SC State Rep. Archibald Hardy III and former SC Circuit Judge, State Rep. and State Senator John C. Hayes III. 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 South Carolina 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 South Carolina Governor (and US President) Flag orders = GO CLICK HERE ]
All State of Maryland Flags across Maryland (MD: Apr. 16): Maryland's Governor ordered all State of Maryland Flags at all state / public / government facilities across the state to half-staff, from sunrise to sunset, Sun., Apr. 16, in honor of former State Delegate Marilyn Rubin Goldwater. Former State Delegate Goldwater represented Legislative District 16. 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 Maryland 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 Maryland and across USA = GO CLICK HERE ]
Upcoming Half-Staffs
All Flags across KENTUCKY (KY: Apr. 17): Kentucky's Governor ordered all (US & State) Flags at all state government / public facilities to half-staff, from sunrise to sunset on Mon., Apr. 17, on the date of their funerals, in honor of two Fort Campbell stationed US Army helicopter pilots - U.S. Army, Warrant Officer 1 Jeffery A. Barnes, 33, of Milton, Florida, and Chief Warrant Officer 2 Zachary G. Esparza, 36, of Jackson, Missouri, who were killed in a HH-60 Blackhawk helicopter 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 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 ]
All (U.S. & State) Flags across MISSOURI (MO: Apr. 17): Missouri's Governor ordered all flags at government / public state facilities in Gasconade County, Missouri to half-staff, from sunrise to sunset on Mon., Apr. 17. the date of his funeral, in honor of US Army Chief Warrant Officer 2 Zachary G. Esparza, 36, of Jackson, Missouri, who was killed in a HH-60 Blackhawk helicopter crash. CLICK HERE to see the Governor's Flag order.
[Note: To receive a Back-to-Full-Staff text alert for this order at sunset and all future Missouri 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 Missouri 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:
[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
