In Idaho, flags fly at half staff. How, why and when should flags be lowered?

Idaho Gov. Brad Little issued a statewide order requiring U.S. and Idaho state flags to be flown at half-staff after an Ada County sheriff’s deputy was shot and killed in the line of duty.

Tobin Bolter, 27, was shot during a traffic stop on Boise Bench Saturday and died Sunday. The 65-year-old suspect fled and was later killed by Boise police Sunday morning.

Flags will be lowered to half-staff until the day after Bolter’s memorial service, according to a news release from the governor’s office. An updated flag policy will be released when the date of the memorial service is determined.

Here’s what you should know about lowered flags and how Idahoans can figure out when and why they’re flown at half-staff.

What does half-mast or half-mast mean?

The flying of the American flag or a state flag at half-staff is a symbol of mourning for the country or state following the death of a government official, military member or first responder; a national tragedy; or on national observances such as Memorial Day, according to usa.gov.

According to usa.gov, the president, state governor or mayor of Washington, D.C. can order flags to be flown at half-staff. On naval vessels it is commonly referred to as half-mast instead of half-mast.

According to the American Legion, city mayors cannot order flags to fly at half-staff.

In Idaho, state law allows the governor to order flags to be flown at half-staff when federal, state or local police officers, firefighters, paramedics or EMTs die in the line of duty, according to Idaho state law.

After notification and verification of the death, the Governor shall order that the flags of the United States and Idaho be flown at half-staff from the time of notification until the day following the funeral service in accordance with state law. All flags at the State Capitol and other state and local government buildings must follow this rule.

The flag that flies over the Capitol in honor of the deceased will be presented to the family in accordance with Idaho state law.

Rules for flying a Stars and Stripes at half mast

According to the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, flags are traditionally flown in public only from sunrise to sunset, but can be flown at any time when illuminated after dark.

“The flag should not be exposed to weather damage, so it should not be displayed during rain, snow and wind storms unless it is an all-weather flag,” the VA said. “It should be displayed often, but especially on national and state holidays and special occasions.”

The American flag, which “should be promptly raised and solemnly lowered,” should be flown on or near the main building of public institutions, schools during school hours and polling places on election days, according to the VA.

According to the VA, on Memorial Day the flag should only be flown at half-mast from sunrise to noon and then flown at the top of the pole until sunset. During times of mourning, the flag should be “raised quickly to the top of the staff before being slowly lowered to the half-mast position.”

The U.S. Flag Code is only advisory for private residences, so there are no penalties or penalties if ordinary citizens choose not to fly flags at half-staff, according to the Congressional Research Service.

Presidents get 30 days, others typically get 10 or less

The time flags must be flown at half-staff varies by person, including:

• 30 days after the death of the President or a former President.

• 10 days after the death of the Vice President, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, or the Chief Justice or a retired Chief Justice of the U.S. Supreme Court.

• From the day of death until burial 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 and minority leaders of the Senate and House of Representatives, or the governor of a state, territory or possession .

• From the day of death until the day thereafter for the death of a U.S. Senator, Representative, territorial delegate, or resident commissioner of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico.

According to the VA, the president can also order the flag to be lowered in half for the deaths of other officials, former officials, foreign dignitaries, or other tragic events.

Wondering why a flag is at half height?

Idahoans interested in flying flags at half-staff can sign up for flag alerts and find flag status updates, including presidential orders at half-staff, on the Governor’s Office website at gov.idaho.gov/flag-status/. You can sign up for halftime alerts via email or text message.

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