Half-staff

Half-mast, or half-staff, describes the act of flying a flag approximately halfway up a flagpole (though anywhere from one-third to two-thirds of the way up the flagpole is acceptable). This is done in many countries as a symbol of respect, mourning, or distress.

Related Topics:
Flag - Flagpole - Mourning

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When hoisting a flag that is to be displayed at half-staff, it should be hoisted to full staff for an instant, then lowered to half-staff. Likewise when it is lowered at the end of the day, it is to be hoisted to full staff for an instant, and then lowered.

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The original flag 'etiquette' was to fly the flag at one flags depth from the top of the hoist. With the larger flags on shorter hoists on public buildings the practice of 'half-mast' has now commonly become to fly the flag at true 'half-mast' regardless of the size of the flag or hoist.

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