To the Editor:

Like many others, I was under the impression that a flag flown at half-staff is an honor reserved for those in public service such as former presidents, members of Congress, police officers, firefighters, and others.

Much has been made of the fact that many local and state municipalities, police departments, and fire departments lowered their flags to half-staff in the wake of Charlie Kirk’s murder, and I admit to a bit of indignation myself.

That indignation led me to educate myself on the rules for flying flags at half-staff. What I learned is that, in addition to the offices I mentioned above, the flag can be ordered at half-staff in the wake of national tragedies, on certain national holidays, and at the discretion of some public officials. The U.S. Flag Code does not expressly prohibit exercising this honor for civilians.

What has become apparent is that even flag honors have become politicized. Why was there a presidential order to lower the flag for Charlie Kirk, a civilian, but not for Melissa Hortman, the Minnesota state representative assassinated in June of this year? In 2018, after the death of former Senator and veteran John McCain, the president at the time had to be pressured into proper half-staff protocol for Senator McCain.

Lowering the flag to half-staff for someone who sought to divide Americans with hateful rhetoric but not for those who served in public office is an insult to those for whom the honor is reserved and cheapens the meaning of our flag. Police stations, fire stations, and municipalities may have been “following orders” when they lowered their flags to half-staff last week, but it would be disingenuous to pretend it wasn’t a political statement on the part of the United States President.

Nancy Cavillones

Founder

Guilderland Indivisible