Gov. Andy Beshear has ordered flags at state buildings to fly at half-staff from sunrise to sunset on March 27 in honor of Specialist Chaz R. McGowan of Casey County, who died March 8 in Grafenwohr, Germany, while serving with the U.S. Army’s 2nd Cavalry Regiment.
A graveside service with full military honors will also take place on Thursday at Glenwood Cemetery in Liberty.
President Dwight Eisenhower issued a proclamation on March 1, 1954, formalizing and clarifying the practice of flying the flag at half-staff as a mark of national mourning or respect.
Half-staff means the flag should be quickly raised to the top of the staff before being lowered slowly to half-staff.
According to Va.Gov, the flag should fly at half-staff for 30 days at all federal buildings, grounds and naval vessels throughout the United States, its territories and possessions after the death of the president or a former president. It is to fly at half-staff for 10 days after the death of the vice president, the chief justice or a retired chief justice of the United States Supreme Court, or the speaker of the House of Representatives.
“These periods of mourning are proclaimed either by the president of the United States, for national remembrance, or the governor of a state or territory, for local remembrance, in the event of a death of a member or former member of the federal, state or territorial government or judiciary,” according to the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs.
The flag is also flown at half-staff on Memorial Day. It is flown at half-staff from sunrise until noon and then raised to full-staff until sunset to mourn and honor the country’s deceased service men and women.
Why are flags flown at half-staff?
Although it is not required by law, “Gov. Beshear encourages all individuals, businesses, organizations and government agencies to join in this tribute,” according to a press release from the governor’s office.
You can stay up to date with flag protocols and statuses in Kentucky by visiting governor.ky.gov/flag-status.