Respecting the Flag and the Office for which it Stands
Jan 10th, 2007 by Larry Hendrick
I’ve noticed something interesting in the past few days with the flags flying at half-mast. Most of our area businesses lowered their flags to the half-mast position in respect for the death of former President Ford, but after about a week, many returned their flags to full-staff, which does not comply with the United States flag code.
The United States Flag Code has clear rules with respect for the death of a sitting or former President.
Title 4; Chapter 1; Section 7(m) states:
The flag shall be flown at half-staff 30 days from the death of the President or a former President; 10 days from the day of death of the Vice President, the Chief Justice or a retired Chief Justice of the United States, or the Speaker of the House of Representatives; from the day of death until interment of an Associate Justice of the Supreme Court, a Secretary of an executive or military department, a former Vice President, or the Governor of a State, territory, or possession; and on the day of death and the following day for a Member of Congress.
This was signed into law for government and military buildings by Dwight D Eisenhower, March 4, 1954. Granted the US Flag code applies strictly to government and military buildings, but is strongly recommended for residential and business flying, also. It’s a matter of respect for the office.
