Flags in state to be lowered to half staff for Lieberman
Flags in Connecticut will be lowered to half staff today following the death of former U.S. Sen. Joe Lieberman, the governor’s office said.
Gov. Ned Lamont announced that “as a mark of solemn respect for the memory and longstanding service of former U.S. Senator Joseph I. Lieberman,” that flags would be lowered from sunrise to sunset on the day of Lieberman’s funeral scheduled for today, according to a release.
The last time Gov. Ned Lamont ordered flags to half-staff was in December, following a proclamation from President Joe Biden that flags nationwide should be to honor U.S. Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O’Connor.
Earlier that month, flags were lowered to half-staff on the anniversary of the Sandy Hook massacre, and for Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day.
Lamont ran against and lost to Lieberman in 2006.
Why are flags lowered to ‘half staff’?
When the U.S. flag is lowered to the half point of the mast it’s at half staff. According to the American Flagpole and Flag Company, the flag needs to be elevated to the peak of the mast before it is lowered to the half-staff position.
According to USA.gov, flags are lowered to half-staff — or half-mast on a ship — following the death of a government official, military member, or emergency first responder, or in honor of a national tragedy or another day of remembrance.
Only the president or a governor may order flags to be flown at half-staff.
Additionally, every year flags around the country are placed in half-staff during Memorial Day, Patriot Day, Korean War Veterans Armistice Day, National Firefighters Memorial Day and Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day.
How long are flags half staffed?
The duration of time at which flags are flown at half staff depends on the nature of the reason and is determined by the governor.
It may be as short a time as from sundown to sunset or far longer, as following the death of former Gov. Lowell Weicker, when flags in Connecticut remained at half staff from June 28 to July 10.