Flags are being lowered to half-staff as a mark of mourning for a prominent public figure who has recently died, and as part of official proclamations or statutory procedures that authorize such observances. The exact timing and scope (federal, state, or local) depend on announcements from government leaders or offices. Direct answer:
- The typical reason: a death of a major public figure (often a former president, vice president, or other high-ranking official) or a significant national event, triggering a period of mourning.
- How long: it varies by proclamation, but commonly lasts from the moment of the announcement through the day of burial, or for a specified number of days stated in an official order.
- Who decides: federal authorities (the White House) for national observances, and state or local leaders for state or municipal observances, sometimes following federal guidelines or specific executive orders.
If you’d like, I can pull the latest official notices for the current half- staff declarations in your area and summarize the exact dates and reasons.
