Flags around Missouri will fly at half-staff through January. Here’s why
You might’ve noticed lowered flags flying around Missouri government buildings. They will be like this for the next month.
Flags are being flown at half-staff in national observance starting Monday, Dec. 30, after the death of former President Jimmy Carter, who died at the age of 100 on Sunday, Dec. 29.
It’s an American tradition to fly flags at half-staff for 30 days after a president or former president dies. President Dwight Eisenhower established the standard in the Federal Register in 1954.
Flags can also be flown at half-staff for other reasons and by order of state officials like Missouri Gov. Mike Parson. Here’s why.
Why are flags lowered in Missouri?
There are numerous reasons flags are flown at half-staff, including celebrating a national holiday or the death of a state official.
The governor handles directives in each state. There are pre-determined dates for lowering flags, and the governor’s office will announce any additional dates.
Flag directives can be issued by the president for flags on federal property, which can be followed at the state level through the governor’s offices.
Here are some of the dates in 2024 when Missouri lowered the flag:
- Feb. 10: in honor of former U.S. Sen. Jean Carpenter Carnahan, who died Jan. 30.
- May 4: in honor of Sgt. Colin Arslanbas, a Marine who died April 18 in training exercise.
- May 15: in honor of Peace Officers Memorial Week
- May 27: Memorial Day
- Sept. 11: in honor of the terrorist attacks against the United States on Sept. 11, 2001.
Dec. 7: Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day
Dec. 30: in honor of President Jimmy Carter, who died Dec. 29
The flags will be lowered until Jan. 28, which means they will be at half-staff during Donald Trump’s inauguration. The last time this happened was in 1973, when the observation of former President Harry Truman’s death overlapped with then-President Richard Nixon’s second inauguration.
You can sign up for email updates on flag directives in Missouri online. The directive generally includes a requirement for state buildings and an invitation for others to lower their flags.
This story was originally published December 31, 2024 at 11:27 AM.
