When do you have to fly a United States flags at full or half workers? Whereas half employees and half mast essentially imply the identical factor , a United States flag flown at half workers is one that's first brought to the highest of the flagpoles and then lowered to the middle . Though flags must be flown at full workers most of the time , flying it at half is extra acceptable at sure instances in the course of the yr or for sure conditions , such because the loss of life of a President , Justice , or Congressman . Though half mast is essentially flying a flag at half employees out at sea , any United States flags flown at half ought to have the American flag on the midpoint of the flagpole and all different lesser flags , including state and metropolis flags , needs to be displayed below the midpoint .

USA Flags for all government buildings ought to be displayed at this level for sure holidays . These holidays include Peace Officers Memorial Day , Memorial Day , Patriot Day , Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day , and Korean Battle Veteran's Day . On lately , American flags ought to be flown at this place from sunrise to sundown; however Memorial Day is an exception . Other than these specific holidays , flags ought to be moved to half staff each time a President , Vice President , Speaker of the House , or Member of Congress dies . Extra specifically , when a President dies , the flag is flown at half for thirty days , while the dying of a Vice President , Chief Justice , or Speaker of the Home warrants the flag to be flown for ten days . Apart from these instances , United States flags are flown at half employees when the President points a yearly proclamation requiring authority's buildings to do so . Apart from these instances , American flags cannot be moved to half staff for some other causes , especially if a flag is displayed on a battlefield .