The flags around here are STILL at half-mast,

[Butterflies]

are we (Americans) still mourning Reagan? Has some other tragedy happened that I don't know about? How long do people like Reagan usually get "mourned"? Is it as overblown as it seems to me?

[greatauntoftriplets]

1. They remain that way for 30 days.

n/t

[orthogonal]

2. 30 days

Federal law requires 30 days for a President's death.

[Walt Starr]

3. BULLSHIT

There is no federal law regarding this. It's by presidential order.

[Dogmudgeon]

5. Right and Wrong

30 days isn't a law. It's part of the US Flag Code, and it's a well-established custom.

As much as I loathed Reagan, if we short him, we'll short Carter, Clinton, and any other good guys when they pass away.

Anyway, it gives us 30 days to talk to our friends and neigbors about Reagan's perfidy without automatically being told to "get over it".

Grit your teeth. Cool down a little. Compose a rock-solid reply to Reagan fans you may meet. Write a Letter To The Editor.

He's gone. And in about 22 days, forgotten.

--bkl

[Walt Starr]

7. Okay, I'll agree ,kthe guideline is in the U.S. flag code

and the implementation is via presidential order.

The U.S. flag code is not the law, though.

[orthogonal]

8. 36 USC 175

36 United States Code 175:

(m) The flag, when flown at half-staff, should be first hoisted
to the peak for an instant and then lowered to the half-staff
position. The flag should be again raised to the peak before it is
lowered for the day. On Memorial Day the flag should be displayed
at half-staff until noon only, then raised to the top of the
staff. By order of the President, the flag shall be flown at
half-staff upon the death of principal figures of the United States
Government and the Governor of a State, territory, or possession,
as a mark of respect to their memory. In the event of the death of
other officials or foreign dignitaries, the flag is to be displayed
at half-staff according to Presidential instructions or orders, or
in accordance with recognized customs or practices not inconsistent
with law. In the event of the death of a present or former
official of the government of any State, territory, or possession
of the United States, the Governor of that State, territory, or
possession may proclaim that the National flag shall be flown at
half-staff. The flag shall be flown at half-staff thirty days from
the death of the President or a former President; ten days from the
day of death of the Vice President, the Chief Justice or a retired
Chief Justice of the United States, or the Speaker of the House of
Representatives; from the day of death until interment of an
Associate Justice of the Supreme Court, a Secretary of an executive
or military department, a former Vice President, or the Governor of
a State, territory, or possession; and on the day of death and the
following day for a Member of Congress. The flag shall be flown at
halfstaff on Peace Officers Memorial Day, unless that day is also
Armed Forces Day. As used in this subsection -
(1) the term ''half-staff'' means the position of the flag when
it is one-half the distance between the top and bottom of the
staff;
(2) the term ''executive or military department'' means any
agency listed under sections 101 and 102 of title 5; and
(3) the term ''Member of Congress'' means a Senator, a
Representative, a Delegate, or the Resident Commissioner from
Puerto Rico.

[TSElliott]

9. Wrong it's federal law.

Presidential order only applies to Government Officials, Presidents whether in office or former get 30 days period.

Please Refer to Section 7 Letter M

http://www.senate.gov/reference/resources/pdf/RL30243.pdf

[Dogmudgeon]

14. Thanks for the link

It's an excellent resource. I hadn't seen that report at all.

I guess the legalisms themselves are kind of ambiguous, but it's been set in law as the official way to deal with the Flag and the people we honor with its display. Good reading for the interested!

--bkl

[sniffa]

4. no, no.. it's 40 days

40th pres = 40 days.

aLso, it honors his musLim heritage to mourn him for 40 days.

[MASSAFRA]

6. It might make you feel better to believe that

the flag is at half -mast for Ray Charles.

[Cyrano]

11. Yesssss

Thank you, Massafra. Everytime we see a flag at half mast, just think of Ray Charles, not Reagan. And then just pause for a moment and let your favorite Ray Charles song drift through your mind. It'll make your day.

[KansDem]

10. Say, Butterflies...Are you from a Navy family???

I ask only because I grew up in a Navy family and used the term "half-mast" all my life. I was informed just recently that the term for land dwellers was "half-staff."

I sill use "half-mast" though; Old habits are hard to break...

[Butterflies]

13. no Navy, no military, just uninformed

I don't know if I ever used either term in my life before today. I don't usually pay attention to things like that, but with all of the Reagan hoopla last week I was anxiously waiting for it to end.

[seabeyond]

12. panhandle of texas, there arent flags up

now that you mention adn certainly havent noticed any at half flag.

that is cool