The United States is a country that has experienced a slew of ups and downs. Certain events imprint themselves on our national consciousness forever, and we honor and mourn these events as pivotal points in our history.

The American flag is ingrained in our society as a symbol of something greater than ourselves. Without it, the world would look a lot different. In fact, we use it as an indicator that something tragic has happened by flying it at half-mast. So when and why exactly do we fly our flags at half-mast in America? Read on to find out.

Why Do We Fly Our Flags Half-Mast?

Flying our flag at half-mast means the flag flies halfway below the top of a ship mast, a flagpole on land, or a flagpole on a building. In most cases, it’s a sign of mourning—a tragedy has occurred, and flying the flag at half-mast honors the people who fell during that tragedy. For instance, we lower the flag to half-mast to commemorate 9/11 and Pearl Harbor.

States and territories in the United States are also ordered to lower all flags to half-mast when a well-known state official dies. A perfect example of this is when General Colin Powell—a notable member of the Bush administration and decorated four-star general—passed away in 2021.

What’s the History of Flying Our Flags at Half-Mast?

The earliest reference of flags flown at half-mast occurred in the 1600s, when the captain of Heart’s Ease—a British ship—died en route to Canada. To honor him, the crew ordered its flag to be flown at half-mast. The tradition has carried on ever since.

What Should We Do When We See a Flag at Half-Mast?

Express your condolences and concern by checking in on others and seeing how they’re feeling. This is one of the most important reasons we fly our flags at half-mast—it evokes the compassion and empathy of the American people.

To conclude, flying a flag at half-mast should activate our reserves of compassion. It should be a time of reflection when we try to put ourselves in the shoes of the people affected by the event. Without the compassionate concern that the flag evokes, we wouldn’t be able to use that opportunity to act within our better nature.