Several states that confirmed that flags will be raised on Inauguration Day, despite the mourning period following former President Jimmy Carter’s death.
After a former president dies, federal flag code dictates that flags should be flown at half-staff for 30 days out of respect. When Carter died Dec. 29 at age 100, President Joe Biden issued a proclamation to lower flags to half-staff for the standard period.
Here’s what we know.
Will Kentucky raise flags to full-staff on Inauguration Day?
Democrat Gov. Andy Beshear hadn’t issued a statement yet as of Thursday afternoon, so it’s unclear whether Kentucky flags should be raised. In other states, officials announced plans to temporarily disregard the proclamation Monday on Inauguration Day, a date which coincides this year with Martin Luther King Day, and falls within the 30-day mourning period.
Donald Trump will be sworn in as the nation’s 47th president. Trump, weeks ago, fumed on social media that flags might be at half-staff during the ceremony.
Story continues after photo gallery.
Which states will raise flags on Inauguration Day?
Several state governors in addition to Indiana have announced plans to raise flags to full-staff on Inauguration Day. They include:
Gov. Greg Abbott of Texas, along with other elected officials, cited a federal statute stating that the U.S. flag should be displayed “especially on Inauguration Day, January 20.”
“While we honor the service of a former President, we must also celebrate the service of an incoming President and the bright future ahead for the United States of America,” Abbott said in a news release.
On Tuesday, House Speaker Mike Johnson suspended the mourning period to allow flags at the U.S. Capitol to fly at full-staff during the inauguration despite Biden’s assurance that the White House won’t reconsider the flag order.
“On January 20th, the flags at the Capitol will fly at full-staff to celebrate our country coming together behind the inauguration of our 47th President, Donald Trump,” Johnson said in a statement. “The flags will be lowered back to half-staff the following day to continue honoring President Jimmy Carter.”
Story continues after photo gallery.
Why are flags at half-staff?
Flags at government agencies in Indiana and across the nation were lowered to half-staff on Dec. 30 in honor and remembrance of the life of the nation’s 39th U.S. President, Jimmy Carter, who died on Dec. 29.
When do flags fly at half-staff?
There are three reasons why both U.S. and state flags are lowered to half-staff:
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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?
It depends — are you on a ship? For ships and at naval stations ashore, the flags are flown at half-mast. But if you happen to be on dry land, flags on a flag pole are flown at half-staff.
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Todd Runkle, Carolinas Connect editor, contributed.
Iris Seaton is the trending news reporter for the Asheville Citizen Times, part of the USA TODAY Network. Reach her at iseaton@citizentimes.com.
John Tufts covers trending news for IndyStar and Midwest Connect. Send him a news tip at JTufts@Gannett.com. Find him on BlueSky at JohnWritesStuff.
Midwest Connect manager Jenny Porter Tilley contributed.
This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: How should flags be displayed on Inauguration Day? What we know