HALF MAST
A. No definite instructions for
flying the flag at half-mast were established in the early years
of our country. Many conflicting regulations existed. In 1954
President Eisenhower proclaimed the following instructions: The
United States flag should be flown at half mast 1) "For
thirty days from the day of death of the President or a former
President." 2) "For ten days in the case of the death
of the Vice President, the Chief Justice or a retired Chief
Justice, or the Speaker of the House of Representatives." 3)
"From the day of death until internment for an Associate
Justice of the Supreme Court, a member of the Cabinet, a former
Vice President, the Secretaries of the Army, Navy and Air Force,
a United States Senator, a member of the House, a territorial
delegate, the Resident Commissioner from the Commonwealth of
Puerto Rico, or the Governor of a state or territory," or 4)
"...in accordance with such orders or instructions as might
be issued by or at the direction of the President, or in
accordance with recognized customs or practices not inconsistent
with law."
B. On Memorial Day until noon.
At noon the flag should be raised to the top of its mast.
It is customary to fly the
United States flag only during daylight. However, if a patriotic
effect is intended, the flag may be flown twenty-four hours a
day, provided it is properly illuminated at night.
January
1. New Year's Day
15 Martin Luther King's Birthday *
20 Inauguration Day
(Once every four years)
(3rd Mon.) Lee's Birthday (AL.,MS.,VA.)
February
(1st Mon.) Lincoln s
Birthday <11 ..DE.)
12. Lincoln's Birthday
(3rd Mon.) Washington's
Birthday*
March
17. St. Patrick s
Day
(Last Mon.) Seward's Day (AK.)
April
(3d Mon.) Patrick's
Day (MA )
(4th Mon.) Confederate Memorial Day (AL., MS.)
(Last Fri.) Arbor
Day (UT.)
May
1. Loyalty Day
(1st Thursday) National Day of Prayer,
(2nd Sun.) Mother's
Day
(3rd Sat.) Armed Forces Day\
15 Armed Forces Day
(Last Mon.) Memorial
Day' (Half-staff until noon)
June
(1st Mon.) Jefferson Davis Birthday
Jun. 14. Flag Day
(3rd Sun) Father s
Day
July
4. Independence Day*
August
4. Coast Guard Day - August 4
(2nd Mon.) Victory Day (Rl.)
(3rd Fri.) Admission
Day (Hl.)
September
(1st Mon.) Labor Day
17. Constitution Day'
Citizen Day
11. Patriot Day (911 Attack: Flag should be flown half mast from
sunrise to sunset)
October
(2nd Mon.) Columbus Day,* Farmer's Day (Fl .)
(3rd Mon.) Alaska
Day (AK.)
13 Navy Day
November
(1st Tues.) Election Day
10. Marine Corps Day
11. Veterans Day
(4th Thurs)
Thanksgiving Day*
December
21. Forefather s Day
25. Christmas Day*
*Denotes Federal Holiday
In addition. Birthdays of States and State Holidays, and
such other days as may be proclaimed by the President.
FLAG TIMELINE
1776
January 1 -- The Grand Union flag is displayed on Prospect
Hill. It has 13 alternate red and white stripes and the
British Union Jack in the upper left-hand corner (the canton).
1776
May -- Betsy Ross reports that she sewed the first American
flag
1777
June 14 -- Continental Congress adopts the following: Resolved:
that the flag of the United States be thirteen stripes,
alternate red and white; that the union be thirteen stars,
white in a blue field, representing a new constellation.(stars
represent Delaware, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Georgia,
Connecticut, Massachusetts, Maryland, South Carolina, New
Hampshire, Virginia, New York, North Carolina, and Rhode
Island)
1787
Captain Robert Gray carries the flag around the world on his
sailing vessel (around the tip of South America, to China, and
beyond). He discovered a great river and named it after his
boat The Columbia. His discovery was the basis of
America's claim to the Oregon Territory.
1795
Flag with 15 stars and 15 stripes (Vermont, Kentucky)
1814
September 14 -- Francis Scott Key writes "The
Star-Spangled Banner." It officially becomes the national
anthem in 1931.
1818
Flag with 20 stars and 13 stripes (it remains at 13
hereafter) (Tennessee, Ohio, Louisiana, Indiana, Mississippi)
1819
Flag with 21 stars (Illinois)
1820
Flag with 23 stars (Alabama, Maine)
first flag on Pikes Peak
1822
Flag with 24 stars (Missouri)
1836
Flag with 25 stars (Arkansas)
1837
Flag with 26 stars (Michigan)
1845
Flag with 27 stars (Florida)
1846
Flag with 28 stars (Texas)
1847
Flag with 29 stars (Iowa)
1848
Flag with 30 stars (Wisconsin)
1851
Flag with 31 stars (California)
1858
Flag with 32 stars (Minnesota)
1859
Flag with 33 stars (Oregon)
1861
Flag with 34 stars; (Kansas)
first Confederate Flag (Stars and Bars) adopted in Montgomery,
Alabama
1863
Flag with 35 stars (West Virginia)
1865
Flag with 36 stars (Nevada)
1867
Flag with 37 stars (Nebraska)
1869
First flag on a postage stamp
1877
Flag with 38 stars (Colorado)
1890
Flag with 43 stars (North Dakota, South Dakota, Montana,
Washington, Idaho)
1891
Flag with 44 stars (Wyoming)
1892
"Pledge of Allegiance" first published in a
magazine called "The Youth's Companion," written by
Francis Bellamy. The words, "under God" were added
on June 14, 1954.
1896
Flag with 45 stars (Utah)
1908
Flag with 46 stars (Oklahoma)
1909
Robert Peary places the flag his wife sewed atop the North
Pole. He left pieces of another flag along the way. He was
never censored for his action.
1912
Flag with 48 stars (New Mexico, Arizona)
1945
The flag that flew over Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941, is
flown over the White House on August 14, when the Japanese
accepted surrender terms.
1949
August 3 -- Truman signs bill requesting the President call
for Flag Day (June 14) observance each year by proclamation.
1959
Flag with 49 stars (Alaska)
1960
Flag with 50 stars (Hawaii)
1963
Flag placed on top of Mount Everest by Barry Bishop.
1969
July 20 -- The American flag is placed on the moon by Neil Armstrong
1995
December 12 -- The Flag Desecration Constitutional Amendment
is narrowly defeated in the Senate. The Amendment to the
Constitution would make burning the flag a punishable crime.
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