Why flags are flying at half-staff, half-mast in Ohio, U.S. until sunset Friday
Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine announced Tuesday morning that all flags on public state buildings would be flown at half-staff.
The governor’s announcement read that flags are lowered today to remember the six people killed by a gunman at an elementary school in Nashville.
U.S. mourns six lives lost in Nashville school shooting
DeWine’s announcement comes a day after President Joe Biden said all White House and federal building flags would be lowered to remember the three children and three adults killed in the shooting.
The victims are: Evelyn Dieckhaus, 9, Hallie Scruggs, 9, William Kinney, 9, Cynthia Peak, 61, Katherine Koonce, 60, and Mike Hill, 61
The flags will remain at half-staff until sunset Friday.
According to the Associated Press, mass school shootings killed 175 people in the United States.
What does flying at half-staff mean?
When a flag is lowered to the middle of the pole, it’s in remembrance of a sorrowful event or anniversary that impacted the public.
Half-staff always refers to the lowering of a flag. In contrast, half-mast refers to naval ships, according to the Naval History blog and the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs.
When flags are ordered to be lowered at half-staff, they should stay at that designated height for 30 days unless the order specifies a sooner date.
When are flags lowered throughout the year?
Flags on public building throughout the United States are routinely flying at half-staff on the following dates:
May 15 - Peace Officers Memorial Day (half-staff all day)
Last Monday in May - Memorial Day (half-staff until noon)
Sept. 11 - Patriot Day (half-staff all day)
First Sunday in October - Fallen Fighters Fallen Firefighters (half-staff all day)
Dec. 7 - Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day (half-staff all day)
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