Flag seems low.
Oh, yeah, there's a war on.
UPDATE: This post was mistaken. I had assumed that the Dept. of Naval Science was noting the death of some student who had passed through Northwestern, but I was completely wrong. The flag flew at half-staff by Presidential order to commemorate the Virginia Tech massacre. Thanks to Nell for finding the real reason.
The flag of the United States may only properly be flown at half-staff pursuant to a provision of federal law, a presidential proclamation, or a gubernatorial proclamation in the state concerned. Under any other circumstance, the flag of the United States is supposed to be flown at full-staff.
ReplyDeleteThis wikipedia excerpt reflects my understanding. Was this location the only one flying the flag at half staff? (That is, any chance there was an Illinois-wide proclamation?)
Otherwise, this is Not Done, particularly by a military installation. Sometimes business owners take it on themselves, but they're not in a chain of command and bound by protocol.
Light dawns. There was a presidential proclamation to mark the anniversary of the Virginia Tech shootings (it's actually in the wiki entry on half staff).
ReplyDeleteFlags were at half staff in Virginia, but it hadn't occurred to me that there would be national observance.
Anyway, nothing directly to do with the wars of occupation; a lot to do with the pathologies of violence and appallingly easy access to guns in Virginia.
Thanks Nell -- I googled looking for some reason for this, but didn't think of the Virgina Tech commemoration. Will update.
ReplyDelete