[PW] Re: U.S. flag never at half-mast/half-staff

[swguardian-stumpers at yahoo.com]

Mast, staff. Call it what you will because both are correct, not from a purist point of view, but from a human one, with a long history of use. 
  See: http://www.ushistory.org/betsy/faqs/q62.htm  
   
  This from the Betsy Ross Homepage site about the half-mast question.: 
  
US Flag Frequently Asked Questions 
  
I was told that there are 5 places that the US flag flies and is never lowered to half staff. 
  
We receive this question periodically. Carol from Indiana wrote to say that the locations are The Betsy Ross House, The Alamo, USS Arizona (Pearl Harbor), The Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, and the Moon. We know that the flag at the Betsy Ross House is half-masted, as when Reagan died and when Renquist died. We know it is not half-masted on the battlefield or the moon, of course. If you know more, let us know. This may simply be a popular trivia question, but with an incorrect answer!
  

Michelle Hawk <refdesk at lclibs.org> wrote:
  Thank you all for your input...it's been interesting to read, but there
still doesn't seem to be a definitive answer. While reading, I thought
maybe she was mis-remembering and was really looking for sites that were
always at half-staff, but Arlington and the Arizona Memorial have been
contradicted. 



Also, thanks for the mast/staff correction, although it makes me feel
better to see that the pao.hood.army.mil website says half-mast instead
of half staff! :-)



I'd still appreciate any info you find! Thanks again!

~Michelle





Michelle Hawk

Head of Reference

Lebanon Community Library

125 North 7th Street

Lebanon, PA 17046

717-273-7624 x3

refdesk at lclibs.org



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