Half Mast

Half-masting a flag is a last symbolic showing of grief.
Courtesy of Library of Congress, Prints & Photographs Division, LC-B8171-7748 DLC

Spectators on the side of the Capital building in Washington, D.C. The flag is flying at half-mast, May, 1865, following the assassination of President Abraham Lincoln, founder of the Republican Party.
Ok, Im going to pick a scab here but if you don’t like it then go watch Dr Phil or something.

On April 16,2007  VT suffered a great loss as one idiot thought he could make 2 wrongs right and killed several innocent students.

On April 20, 1999, a couple other idiots did a similar act at Columbine HighSchool.

The point is that after the VT event the flag was ordered to be flown at half mast. 
The flag flown at half-mast is a symbol to remember someone who has died.

That can be a well-known person or a group of people like the massacre at Virginia Tech recently.  And the flying of the flag at half-mast is a sign of respect for someone we feel sorry for who has died.

I ask a simple question, why haven’t we noticed that we haven’t been flying any flags for those warriors paying the ultimate sacrifice?
Some would say, fly the flag half mast until the war in Iraq/Afghanistan is over.

But what if we simply just lowered the flag half mast when a service member died from a particular state? That state capital could lower its flag for a day couldn’t it? Wait a second, would that require someone to give a crap and to do somthing? 

The Marines are at war and America is at the mall I read on a dry erase board from another warrior and he nailed it.

After Sept 11, the flags were out and we were pissed. You still are mad………aren’t you? Because we are still at war! How many of those flags have come down and no longer line the streets?

I figure, warriors are spending years at a deployment fighting, cant we spend one day in their recognition back here when one pays the ultimate sacrifice? Just One Marine’s View.

Comments

[Gunny Taylor B's mom]

I must say, we have a good Governor here in Michigan, as she orders the flags to be flown at half mast each time one of our own from our state has given the ulitimate sacrifice. It is always on the news this order. I am thankful she is a reminder to the people, it is just to bad that people need that reminder and do not do it on their own.

[Anita]

I don't like much that our Gov. here in Oregon does, but he does go to the funeral of each fallen warrior and flags are lowered.

[CitSAR]

Connecticut lowers them too. But,regarding others - if they are not going to lower to half mast for a period of time, they should at least raise and dip it before raising again - daily.

That would be both respectful and correct.

[Leta]

Major P - You know I'm in total agreement with you on this one. TOTAL agreement. It's unfortunate that we can't "pick a few scabs" and discard them down the toilet. Anyway...our fallen and their families deserve more than we can ever give to them. A showing of respect by lowering the flag to half mast is a simple act yet one that seems a bit too much "trouble". Then again...it also seems to be a bit too much "trouble" for the media to respectfully acknowledge the ultimate sacrifice these men and women make. Other than home town media outlets we generally get a number. WRONG!!! So darn WRONG!!! Each of those men and women should be RESPECTFULLY featured on the national media but, heck, I guess that would mean cutting in to the time for Anna Nicole Smith, Nancy Pelosi, etc.

Sucks! Absolutely Sucks!

[Jenn, Buffalo, NY]

I agree 100% with you Major P! I'll tell you why you don't see it happening. Because we're a country built on the freedom of choice can't make a decision. We have to fight and argue the most ridiculous points. We tend to lose sight of what matters. Then when we ask them "What matters?" Our "leaders" stare at us with blank stares on their faces. "What matters?" you ask me... OUR TROOPS!!! Get off your azz when one comes home into the arms of Mother Earth instead of their family and lower the flag. It's the least we can do for them when they do so much for us. Sorry for the rant.

[THE REV BIG BRO JIM I]

I AGREE WITH ALL OF THE ABOVE, BUT WE ALSO IN CT.KEEP THE FLAG AT HALF MAST UNTIL SUNSET OF THE SOLDIERS IS LAID TO REST.
THE PROPER WAY
SUPPORT OUR TROOPS THEY SUPPORT YOU.

[Veteran's Wife]

I wear a bracelet purchased from a Soldiers' Angels booth at an air show - blue band with red and white stripes, white stars and the words "support our troops." People look at me like I have two heads but I don't care. What does it take for these morons to realize that without the brave men and women who are willing to fight, and die, in defense of our country we would be toast? Flying the flag at half staff every time one of our warriors makes the ultimate sacrifice should be required.

[Karen I.]

I think the flags going half mast should only be for heros who put themselves in harms way for others. That would not be for people who were in the wrong place at the wrong time. This would certainly include troops in the line of duty, but would include fireman, police, medical personal killed in a bad neighborhood responding to a call or whose death resulted from catching a fatal disease from a patient or a prison guard who died. So if I get hit by a garbage truck don't do half mast for me. If I saved 3 kids by pushing them out of the way of the garbage truck and died, do half mast for me.If we do half mast for victims of crime because of all the publicity it got, we should do it for all victims of crime and we would always have half mast.That sounds cold but I don't feel victims are more worthy because they were in a high profile incident.

[CitSAR]

Personally, I understand the deep meaning of observing half mast.

But, I feel a need to point out observations my non-military, every day civilian co-workers have made.

Flying the flag at full height is a symbol of national pride and strength. Many, see the flag at half staff and just think "I cant take it, all the killing "of innocents" any more" bring everyone home now. The respect issue isnt even factored in. Ignorant emotion changes the meaning and effects the perception.

[Linda]

Major, I agree wholeheartedly. I've called the White House and asked that same question. The sacrifices are too many for too few. Until this war is over, until our troops come home, our flag should be flown at half mast to remember their courage and sacrifices.

[Brian Sanchez]

My God, what a bunch of cry babies. What? You're not feeling the love?

lol

[concretebob]

Here in the capital of the Commonwealth of Virginia, the flags at the Va War Memorial,(except the US Flag), fly at half-mast.

[REV BIG BRO JIM I]

LETA,
YOU GOT IT ALL TOGETHER. I HAVE TO REMIND THE V.F.W. TO LOWER OUR COLORS TO HALF MAST, I THINK THEY JUST GO THERE TO WATCH BASE BALL AND POUND DOWN A FEW BEERS,WITCH DAWNS ON ME,I'M
LATE. GOTTA GO WATCH THE END OF THE RACE.I WOULD TAKE MY MY WIFE OUT FOR MOTHERS DAY,,NAH,, SHE'SNOT MY MOTHER.

[jim b]

God have mercy on the 5 soldiers of the 3rd ID who were killed, and please God help those 3 soldiers who were abducted.

[Beth Lamm]

test

[cpljimmyjayw]

I've lowered my flag until they are all home. It seems that everyday a Soldier, Marine, Airmen, Sailor dies for the sake of freedom for this nation. The very least that I can do is Honor their sacrifice! I also joined the PGR of Michigan for the same reason.
"Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God."
-Matthew 5:9

[Nike Shox Navina]

Network is the bridge, and let me get to know you, The keyboard is connected to the link, you my friendship, put away the friendship together. Friendship is about in a salute and a blessing in transmission.