Celebrated on the last Monday of May, Memorial Day is a federal holiday to honor and remember the brave military veterans who died serving in the Armed Forces. Formerly called Decoration Day, it’s a tradition across the nation. And since it’s a federal holiday, government workers get the day off. Whether barbecuing in your backyard or visiting a veteran’s gravesite, flying the American flag at half-staff is a fitting tribute on this day.
What Is Half-Staff?
The term “half-staff” refers to a semi-lowered position in which a flag is displayed on a flagpole. Traditionally, it’s performed as a symbol of respect and mourning. In dozens of countries throughout the world including the United States, flags are flown at half-staff for this purpose.
To fly the American flag at half-mast, you must first raise it to the top of the flagpole, after which you can lower it about halfway down the flagpole. Also known as “half-mast,” it’s a universal symbol for respect and morning.
Why the American Flag is Flown at Half-Staff on Memorial Day
The U.S. Veterans Administration (VA) explains that the American flag should be flown at half-staff on Memorial Day. With that said, Memorial Day is somewhat different than other federal holidays. While you should typically fly the American flag at half-staff on all federal holidays, you should only do so for a short period of time on Memorial Day.
On Memorial Day, the American flag should only be flown at half-staff from sunrise until noon, after which it should be raised back to the top of the flagpole. According to the VA, this is intended to honor our nation’s fallen heroes. Hundreds of thousands of military service members have died while serving in the Armed Forces. By flying the American flag at half-staff until noon on Memorial Day, you honor their legacies while projecting your patriotism in the process.
With Memorial Day fast approaching, you should check to ensure your American flag is ready to be displayed. From sunrise until noon on this federal holiday, you should fly it at half-mast. After noon has passed, you can then raise your American flag back to the top of the flagpole. While other federal holidays are different, this is the only proper way to display the American flag on Memorial Day.
See the full list of American flag holidays.
6 Facts About Memorial Day
Celebrated every year on the last Monday of May, Memorial Day is a federal holiday that honors and remembers all the brave men and women who gave their lives serving in the nation’s military. Did you know? This holiday has some interesting facts worth knowing!
Unofficial Start of Summer
Technically, summer doesn’t begin until June 20. However, many Americans view Memorial Day as being the unofficial start of this new season.
Civil War was the Deadliest War
The American Civil War was the country’s deadliest war of all time. Beginning in 1861 and ending just four years later in 1865, more than 620,000 Americans lost their lives while serving — that’s more than the Vietnam War, Korean War, World War I and World War II. It wasn’t just the violent nature of the Civil War that resulted in such a high death rate; military historians believe that roughly half of those deaths were attributed to disease and illness.
The Declaration Day
Before it was known as Memorial Day, it was called Declaration Day. In the wake of the Civil War, Americans wanted to honor their friends, family and loved ones who had lost their lives serving. This led to the creation of “Tribute Day,” which was later renamed to “Memorial Day.”
Flags Flown at Half-Staff
The American flag is typically flown at half-staff on Memorial Day as a means of honoring all of the men and women who lost their lives serving. According to Wikipedia, the American flag is raised to the top of the staff and then lowered to a half-staff position. It remains here until noon, at which point it’s raised back to the top of the staff for the rest of the day.
A Time for Pause
At 3:00 PM on Memorial Day, Americans are asked to stop and pause for a moment of silence. This time for pause was actually the idea of former President Bill Clinton, who signed the National Moment of Remembrance Act back in 2000. In addition to regular Americans, companies and major organizations also observe this moment of pause. Major League Baseball teams, for instance, will stop to hold a moment of silence.
Washington D.C. Hosts Largest Memorial Day Parade
Cities and regions throughout the country celebrate Memorial Day by hosting parades. The largest Memorial Day parade, however, takes place in Washington D.C. Each year, more than a quarter of a million people attend the event, many of whom are retired veterans, active servicemen and women, and patriotic Americans.
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