Why are the flags at half mass?

Question

today?

29th june

Answer 1

Likely an official or a famous person died.

Answer 2

Difficult to say without knowing which state you are in. Flags are lowered to half-mast on order of either the president or the gouvernor in case of:

(1)Thirty days after the death of a president or former president

(2)Ten days after the death of a vice president, the chief of justice or a retired chief of justice or the speaker of the house of representatives.

(3)Until the burial of an associate justice of the Supreme Court, secretary of a military department, a former vice president, or the governor of a state, territory, or possession.

(4)On the day of and the day after the death of a member of Congress.

(5)On Memorial Day, the day set aside to honor all the people who have died while serving the United States & originally called Decoration Day, the flag is flown at half-Staff until noon, then raised to full staff until sundown.

In addition, the President signed a bill on June 29th 2007 that had passed through the house amending the Federal Flag Code in the following way:

"Army Specialist Joseph P. Micks Federal Flag Code Amendment Act of 2007 - Amends federal law with regard to the flying of the national flag at half-staff to:

(1) allow a governor of a state, territory, or possession of the United States (governor) to proclaim that the national flag be flown at half-staff upon the death of a member of the Armed Forces from the governor's state, territory, or possession who dies while serving on active duty;

(2) provide the same authority to the Mayor of the District of Columbia (District) with respect to present or former District officials and members of the Armed Forces from the District; and

(3) require, when a governor or Mayor of the District issues such a proclamation, the national flag flown at any federal installation or facility in that state, territory, possession, or District to be flown at half-staff consistent with that proclamation."

Conclusion:

So most likely a service member of your state died in one of the conflicts (Iraq, Afghanistan...)

Answer 3

It's; HALF MAST.   Or better yet;   HALF STAFF.  Educate yourself.

And no, it is not for George Carlin.

Answer 4

George Carlin was probably buried today.

Answer 5

Has it got something to do with the passing away of Field Marshall SHFJ Manek shaw (age 94) on 27 June, who by his military campaign made birth of Bangladesh (first independent country created after WW II) possible?

Answer 6

Flags are flown at half mass to honor a person who has died recently. This is awarded to someone whom the state holds in high esteem.

Answer 7

Isn't the expression "half mast?"  As in the mast of a ship?

Answer 8

The flag when flow  at half mast is not halfway down the mast It is one flag width short of the top of the mast. Remember it is mast not mass. Flow at half mast as a sign of respect for someone who has died.