Half-Staff for War Dead

How come our country's flag hasn't been flown at half-staff on each and every day an American soldier has lost his or her life in Iraq?

According to Section 3(m) of the Federal Flag Code (Public Law 94-344):

By order of the President, the flag shall be flown at half-staff upon the death of principal figures of the United States Government and the Governor of a State, territory, or possession, as a mark of respect to their memory. In the event of the death of other officials or foreign dignitaries, the flag is to be displayed at half-staff according to Presidential instructions or orders, or in accordance with recognized customs or practices not inconsistent with law. In the event of the death of a present or former official of the government of any State, territory, or possession of the United States, the Governor of that State, territory, or possession may proclaim that the National flag shall be flown at half-staff. The flag shall be flown at half-staff thirty days from the death of the President or a former President; ten days from the day of death of the Vice President, the Chief Justice or a retired Chief Justice of the United States, or the Speaker of the House of Representatives; from the day of death until interment of an Associate Justice of the Supreme Court, a Secretary of an executive or military department, a former Vice President, or the Governor of a State, territory, or possession; and on the day of death and the following day for a Member of Congress.

Not a single thing in the Federal Flag Code prohibits the flying of the American flag at half-staff on each day an American soldier is killed in Iraq or Afghanistan. Yet, as noted by Brad Friedman at The Brad Blog, to date, George W. Bush has failed to attend even one funeral let alone ordered flags lowered to half-staff for a single one of them.

Some governors, though (for example, the governors of California, Michigan, Oregon and New Mexico), have ordered the flag to be flown at half-staff to honor soldiers from their states who were killed in Iraq. As best as I can tell, however, the governor of Texas inexplicably hasn't seen fit to likewise honor the 219 fallen sons and daughters of Texas who have lost their lives in Iraq (316 including those killed in Afghanistan). Even some Texas cities and counties have started to fly the flag at half-staff for this reason. But not the Lone Star state itself. How come, Perry?

Yes, the last Monday in May is reserved each year to commemorate U.S. men and women who have died in military service to their country, but the flag is flown at half-staff only until noon on Memorial Day (Federal Flag Code, Section 2(d)) and that simply is not sufficient to honor our war dead. Flags should be flown at half-staff on federal, state, county and municipal properties on each day an American soldier is killed in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Please click here to go to The Petition Site where Jean Matricaria has started an American Flag at Half Staff for our Soldiers petition. Jean is hoping to gather the same amount of signatures in support of her petition as the amount of U.S. soldiers who lost their lives in the Iraq War--3,323 to date. Jean says:

We have a beautiful custom to show respect for our deceased Presidents - our American Flag at half staff. Our flag stands for the People and Freedom. I would like to see our flags, across the USA, at half staff until the war is over. What better way to let our soldiers and their families know that they are in our thoughts and prayers everyday. That they are appreciated by all of us.

I'm with you, Jean, and I happily signed your petition. I will also be writing my federal, state, county and municipal representatives about this matter.