Texans have been asked to lower their flag in remembrance of the attack in Israel by Hamas three years ago.
Gov. Greg Abbott, on Oct. 7, ordered that the U.S. and Texas flags be lowered to half-mast in remembrance of the 1,200 men, women and children who were killed that day, including some Americans.
"Three years ago, Hamas carried out a brutal terrorist attack on the State of Israel and murdered more than 1,200 men, women, and children," Abbott said in a statement. "Texas stands with Israel and with the Jewish community. We will always honor the lives lost that day."
The flags are set to be lowered throughout the day on Oct. 7 and may return to full-staff at sunset.
Do I have to lower my flag?
If you’re flying the U.S. flag, it should be lowered to half-staff during the mourning
period, in accordance with the U.S. flag code.
The code is a set of guidelines, not law, but private citizens and businesses are expected to follow the protocol of lowering the U.S. flag to half-staff on a vertical pole.
If you have an American flag on a 45-degree post, like the kind you mount on the side of your home, you can’t actually lower it to half-staff. But you could add a black ribbon to the top of the pole or, if your post has one, lower the flag to the 90-degree position.
When are flags flown at half-staff?
There are specific holidays and events for which flags are flown at half-staff in the United States, according to the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs website. They include:
- Memorial Day: the flag should be displayed at half-staff until noon, then raised to the top of the staff.
- Peace Officers Memorial Day, unless that day is also Armed Forces Day.
- Patriot Day.
- National Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day.
- National Firefighters Memorial Day.
President Dwight Eisenhower also issued a proclamation on the proper times for flying the flag at half-staff when government officials die:
- Thirty days for all federal buildings, grounds and naval vessels throughout the United States and its territories and possessions after the death of the president or a former president.
- Ten days at half-staff after the death of the vice president, the chief justice or a retired chief justice of the U.S. Supreme Court, or the speaker of the House of Representatives.
- From the date of death until interment for an associate justice of the Supreme Court, a member of the Cabinet, a former vice president, the president pro tempore of the Senate, the majority leader of the Senate, the minority leader of the Senate, the majority leader of the House of Representatives or the minority leader of the House of Representatives.
- The date of death and the next day for a U.S. senator, a representative, a territorial delegate or the resident commissioner from the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico. It should also be flown at half-staff at all federal facilities in the state, congressional district, territory or commonwealth of these officials.
- From the date of death until interment for the governor of a state, territory or possession.
The president may also order that the flag be flown at half-staff to commemorate the death of other officials, former officials or foreign dignitaries, in addition to tragic events.
Mateo Rosiles is the Texas Connect reporter for USA TODAY and its regional papers in Texas, based in Austin. Got a news tip for him? Email him at mrosiles@usatodayco.com.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Why are flags at half-staff today in Texas? Abbott orders them lowered
