South Carolina flags will be flying at half-staff Friday, Dec. 20.
Here’s what to know about Gov. Henry McMaster’s half-staff flag order.
Why are flags at half-staff in South Carolina?
McMaster ordered flags to be lowered to half-staff Dec. 20 in honor of Kay Patterson.
According to a news release from the state, Patterson had an “extraordinary legacy and lifetime of service to the State of South Carolina, including as a member of the South Carolina House of Representatives and the South Carolina Senate.”
How long will flags be at half-staff?
S.C. flags will be flown at half-staff from sunrise to sundown on Friday, Dec. 20.
Where will flags be flown at half-staff?
McMaster ordered that flags be flown at half-staff atop the state Capitol and also requested that the flags over state buildings and buildings of the political subdivisions of S.C. similarly be flown at half-staff.
Why do flags fly at half-staff?
Usa.gov states that the American flag flies at half-staff when the country or a state is in mourning. The president, a state governor or the mayor of the District of Columbia can order flags to fly at half-staff.
An American flag flying at half-staff generally indicates one of these three things:
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The death of a government official, military member or emergency first responder.
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Memorial Day and other national days of remembrance.
Is it half-mast or half-staff?
Previous reporting from Memphis Commercial Appeal explained that on ships and at naval stations ashore, flags are flown at half-mast. Elsewhere ashore, flags are flown at half-staff.
Iris Seaton, Carolinas Connect, contributed.
Todd Runkle is the Carolinas Connect editor and a trending news editor for the Asheville Citizen Times, part of the USA TODAY Network. Reach him at trunkle@gannett.com.
This article originally appeared on Greenville News: Why are flags at half-staff in SC? What to know about Dec. 20 order.