Dates to Fly the Flag at Half Staff May 15 - Peace Officer Memorial Day Last Monday in May - Memorial Day (half staff until noon only) July 27 - Korean War Veteran's Day September 11 - Patriot Day December 7 - Pearl Harbor Day

To position the flag at half-staff, first hoist the flag to the peak of the staff for an instant and then, in respect for the deceased, lower it to the half-staff position -- roughly halfway between the top and bottom of the staff. Before lowering it for the day, raise the flag again to the peak of the pole.

By order of the President, the flag shall be flown at half-staff upon the death of principal figures of the United States Government and the governor of a state, territory, or possession, as a mark of respect to their memory. In the event of the death of other officials or foreign dignitaries, the flag is to be displayed at half-staff according to U.S. Presidential instructions, or in accordance with recognized customs. 

In the event of the death of a present or former official of the government, any state, territory, or possession may proclaim that the National Flag shall be flown at half-staff. 

The flag shall be flown at half-staff for thirty days following the death of the President or a former President; ten days following the day of death of the Vice President, the Chief Justice or a retired Chief Justice of the United States, or the Speaker of the House of Representatives; from the day of death until interment of a former Vice president or the governor of a state, territory, or possession; and on the day of death and the following day for a member of Congress. 

Patriot Day has been added to the Flag Holidays listed in  section 174 of the US Flag Code. On December 18, 2001,   President Bush signed Public Law No: 107-89, designating September 11th as Patriot Day. State and local governments and the people of the United States are asked to observe Patriot Day with appropriate programs and activities to honor the individuals who lost their lives as a result of the terrorist attacks on that date in 2001.
 

The day has also been designated as a day that the US flag should be flown at half-staff from sunrise to sundown, not just until noon as is done on Memorial Day. In addition the people of the United States are asked to observe a moment of silence on Patriot Day in remembrance of the victims. 

Many people have asked if Government offices, schools, banks, etc. will be closed on that day. We don’t  have that information at this time but as decisions are made we will keep you informed.

Patriot Day should not be confused with Patriot’s Day, a regional holiday celebrated in New England on the third Monday in April which commemorates Paul Revere’s ride and the battle of Lexington & Concord during the Revolutionary War. The Boston Marathon is run on Patriot’s Day every year.

Some of the information on this page was provided by the Annin Company and the National Flag Foundation