November 12, 2026 · By the Flags At Half Staff Editorial Team
Seeing a lowered flag can make you wonder whether yours should be lowered too. A quick check is better than copying a nearby display or relying on an undated image. The notice should answer five practical questions.
Who Issued the Instruction?
Start with an official source. A social post may accurately share a proclamation, but it can also leave out a later change. Open the government notice when available and look for the issuing office and date.
Which Flag Is Affected?
Some instructions address the U.S. flag and a state flag together. Others address only the state flag. A graphic that simply says Flags at Half-Staff may not explain that distinction.
Where Does It Apply?
Nationwide, statewide, local, and facility-specific instructions have different scopes. A direction for state buildings is not the same statement as an invitation for every home to participate. Read the wording for the property where your flag is displayed.
When Does It Begin and End?
Look for an exact date, a local-time rule, or a condition such as a funeral. Do not substitute the date a story was posted for the actual observance date. If the ending time is unknown, treat it as unknown rather than guessing.
Is Another Order Still Active?
One notice can end while another remains in effect. Before raising the flag again, check the current instructions for the same flag and location. That is why a useful reminder system needs to track more than a single expiration date.
Our state pages bring those checks together with official links and verification details. They also identify the limits of our coverage, so you can tell when a local source still needs to be consulted.
Sources: U.S. Flag Code and applicable official orders. Related guides: Lowering and Raising a Flag; Multiple Flags; Why Nearby Flags Differ.