By Todd Runkle for the Asheville Citizen-Times as appearing in the Hendersonville Times-News
North Carolina has joined some other states that will raise flags to full staff on President-elect Donald Trump’s Inauguration Day, despite the traditional mourning period following a former president’s death.
After the death of a former president, federal flag code dictates that flags should be flown at half-staff for 30 days. After former President Jimmy Carter died on 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.
Several state officials have announced plans to temporarily disregard the proclamation on Inauguration Day, which coincides this year with Martin Luther King Day. The date falls on Jan. 20, within the 30-day mourning period.
North Carolina to raise flags to full-staff on Inauguration Day
N.C. Gov. Josh Stein issued his order in a Jan. 17 news release. The order states that all U.S. and North Carolina flags at state facilities will fly at full staff on Monday, Jan. 20, for Inauguration Day. Flags were previously ordered to fly at half-staff for a period of 30 days beginning Dec. 30 in honor of Carter.
Flags will resume flying at half-staff from sunrise, Tuesday, Jan. 21, until sunset, Wednesday, Jan. 29, in accordance U.S. Code, Title 4, Chapter 1, §7, the news release said.
“I am pleased to raise flags in North Carolina on Inauguration Day to honor the new presidency and the peaceful transition of power, and Martin Luther King, Jr. Day,” Stein said in the release. “Flags will resume flying at half-staff Tuesday to continue the mourning period for President Jimmy Carter.”
Which states will raise flags on Inauguration Day?
A number of state governors have announced by Jan. 17 plans to raise flags to full-staff on Inauguration Day:
- Alabama
- Alaska
- Arkansas
- California
- Florida
- Idaho
- Indiana
- Iowa
- Louisiana
- Mississippi
- Missouri
- Montana
- Nebraska
- North Carolina
- North Dakota
- Ohio
- Oklahoma
- South Carolina
- Tennessee
- Texas
- Utah
Additionally, House Speaker Mike Johnson suspended the mourning period to allow flags at the U.S. Capitol to fly at full-staff during the inauguration.
“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.”
Why are flags at half-staff?
Flags at government agencies in N.C. and across the nation were lowered to half-staff on Dec. 30 in honor and remembrance of the life of the nation’s 39th president, Jimmy Carter, who died on Dec. 29.
“President Jimmy Carter was the epitome of what it means to be a true public servant in and out of office. In a political world of hate and bombast, President Carter was a kind, calm, giving and sincere man of faith who continued to serve our country and humanity long after his term in office,” said former N.C. Gov. Roy Cooper. “He was an inspiration across the globe, and I join the nation and world in honoring and praying for the Carter family.”
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:
- The death of a government official, military member or emergency first responder.
- A national tragedy.
- 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.
The preceding article originally appeared on January 17, 2025 at the Hendersonville Times-News website and is made available here for educational purposes only. This constitutes a ‘fair use’ of any such copyrighted material as provided for in Title 17 U.S.C. section 106A-117 of the U.S. Copyright Law.
