May 2011
05/19/2011:
HALF-MAST: I don't know about other states, but Wisconsin seems to have gotten into a tizzy over flying our national flag at half-mast. In fact, I'd be willing to wager that for the past several years, we've been flying the flag at half-mast more often than at full-mast.
Usually it's difficult to even find out why the flag is at half-mast... and if you make the effort, you'll find that some obscure state legislator has died.
When I was growing up, I think I could count on one hand the times I saw the flag at half-mast. The JFK assassination. The Challenger disaster. The Beirut Marine-barracks bombing. The death of a former President. And later, of course, 9/11.
All perfectly appropriate times to lower the flag, to symbolize national mourning.
But Wisconsin? Meaning no disrespect to the deceased, we seriously need to reevaluate our policy here.
Posted by Alois on
Around here, the flag flies at half-mast when a Maryland soldier is killed in Iraq or Afghanistan - or when our wonderfully goofy ex-governor (and ex-Baltimore mayor) died.
Posted by: moderate dem | 05/19/2011 at 09:51 AM
There should be a set stat of rules saying when the flag should be at half mast. otherwise it will loose its meaning and no one will care.
Posted by: jon | 07/19/2011 at 03:51 PM