You see it periodically: a flag at a courthouse, public school or other state government building flying at half-staff.  You understand it probably has something to do with honoring the service of a prominent person who has recently died or commemorating an historic event.  But who decides what circumstances trigger this?

At the State level, it’s the Office of the Governor.  The Governor’s web site includes a link to a page devoted to the rules for flag lowering.  There you will find the conditions when it is appropriate to fly the flag at half-staff and information about recent requests by the Governor to do so.  The page also includes links to additional information about the Washington State and United States flags and to Title 4 of the US Code, which describes the proper use and display of our national flag.

It’s interesting to note that while we’re supposed to fly the flag at half-staff on Pearl Harbor Rememberance Day (Dec. 7) and Patriot Day (September 11), we’re not supposed to do so on Memorial Day or Veterans Day.