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# When should the American flag fly at half-staff?
- URL: https://www.foodconsumer.org/when_should_the_american_flag_fly_at_half-staff_101120090900/
- Published: 2009-11-10T21:00:00.000Z
- Updated: 2026-09-22T16:16:37.000Z
- Description: An explainer on Eisenhower's proclamation: the president directs how the executive branch flies the flag, federal law does not bind anyone else, and the simple rule is half-staff when the nation mourns, as declared by the president or a governor.
- Author: Food Consumer
- Tags: Miscellaneous, Health News, #vivvo-import

A proclamation issued by President Dwight D. Eisenhower on March 1, 1954, [clarifies the traditions or customs for flying the flag at half-staff](http://www1.va.gov/opa/feature/celebrate/halfstaf.asp?ref=foodconsumer.org). The [President of the United States](http://answers.usa.gov/cgi-bin/gsa%5Fict.cfg/php/enduser/std%5Fadp.php?p%5Ffaqid=1303&p%5Fsid=H2IJFFMj&p%5Flva=7025&ref=foodconsumer.org) can direct how the entire executive branch of the government flies the [flag](http://www.pueblo.gsa.gov/cic%5Ftext/misc/ourflag/titlepage.htm?ref=foodconsumer.org). Federal law does not specify how the flag must be flown in other situations. While most places or people do follow how the executive branch flies the flag, they do not have to. For instance, a local community, a company, a school district or a federal agency can decide to have all of their flags at half-staff because of the death of an employee, a student, a mayor or a local police officer.

However, an easy way to remember when to fly the United States flag at half-staff is when the nation is in mourning. These periods of mourning are declared by [Presidential proclamation](http://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/presidential-actions/proclamations?ref=foodconsumer.org) or by the [governor of a state or territory](http://answers.usa.gov/cgi-bin/gsa%5Fict.cfg/php/enduser/std%5Fadp.php?p%5Ffaqid=1310&p%5Fsid=H2IJFFMj&p%5Flva=7025&ref=foodconsumer.org).

**Additional Resources:**

- [U.S. Code, Title 4, Chapter 1: The Flag](http://uscode.house.gov/download/pls/04C1.txt?ref=foodconsumer.org)
- [The American Flag and its Protocol](http://answers.usa.gov/cgi-bin/gsa%5Fict.cfg/php/enduser/std%5Fadp.php?p%5Ffaqid=6334&p%5Fsid=H2IJFFMj&p%5Flva=7025&ref=foodconsumer.org)
- [Ordering a Flag Flown over the United States Capitol](http://answers.usa.gov/cgi-bin/gsa%5Fict.cfg/php/enduser/std%5Fadp.php?p%5Ffaqid=5894&p%5Fsid=H2IJFFMj&p%5Flva=7025&ref=foodconsumer.org)
- [Correct Method of Folding the Flag](http://www1.va.gov/opa/feature/celebrate/flagfold.asp?ref=foodconsumer.org)