Difference Between Half-Mast & Half-Staff

Half-staff and half-mast mean the same thing. The flag is being flown halfway up the pole because of some national tragedy or significant person’s death. Half-staff merely refers to flying the flag on a pole in the ground, while half-mast refers to flying the flag on a ship. A flag staff is used to fly a flag on the dry land, while a ship’s mast is used to fly a flag at sea.

It is U.S. flag etiquette that the U.S. flag never fly lower than any other flag. For that reason, the flying of the flag at half-staff or half-mast should only be done under executive order from the president of the United States. This order is given during instances of significant national tragedy, such as the events of Sept. 11, 2001, or after the death of a significant national leader.

When flown at half-staff or half-mast, the flag is not merely raised halfway up the flag pole or mast and left there. The flag is to be raised and lowered during the playing of the national anthem, and the raising or lowering should be completed before the anthem is completed. To properly set the flag to half-staff, the flag is raised to the full height of the pole or mast and then lowered to half-staff or half-mast. If another country’s flag or a state flag is being flown adjacent to the U.S. flag, that flag must go up first so that at no time while on the pole or mast is it higher than the U.S. flag.

The flag should be lowered at the end of the day before the sun sets on it. If it is to fly at night, it must be lit from below. To lower the flag from half-mast or half-staff, first raise the flag to the full height of the pole or mast. Then slowly lower the flag, fold it and properly store it.