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.

External links

• US Flag Code Concerning Flag Display
• Canadian Heritage announcements of half-masting
• Canadian rules for half-masting