Flags are at half-staff across RI. Here's why.

Gov. Dan McKee has ordered that the U.S. and Rhode Island state flags be flown at half-staff, "in memory of the victims of the horrific shooting in Lewiston, Maine."

The flags should be lowered immediately and remain lowered through Sunset on Monday, Oct. 30.

The governor reached out to Maine Gov. Janet Mills to offer assistance. On X, formerly known as Twitter, he said Rhode Island state police are working with police in the region regarding the ongoing search for the suspect.

In a press release, he offered his condolences on the mass shooting and advocated for action to prevent future gun violence.

“We are sickened and heartbroken for the victims of yesterday’s horrific mass shooting in Maine," McKee said in the press release. "These lives were senselessly taken. Susan and I are praying for the safety of everyone in Lewiston and thinking of the families who will be forever changed by this senseless act of gun violence. Our nation must come together and do everything we can to end these horrific acts of violence in our communities. Enough is enough."

The release goes on to say, "The Governor asks Rhode Islanders to lower their flags as a sign of respect."

Why were the flags at half-staff earlier this month?

On Oct. 10, McKee ordered that the U.S. and Rhode Island state flags be flown at half-staff, "in recognition of the lives lost to the Hamas terrorist attacks in Israel."

When does the flag fly half-staff?

The U.S. flag is flown at half-staff when the nation or a state is in mourning, according to usa.gov, an official website of the United States government.

Over time, presidents also began to recognize other tragedies: the crew of a sunken nuclear submarine, passengers of downed airliners, victims of terrorist attacks or mass shootings. Like executive orders, proclamations have the force of law — but are most often used to honor constituency groups or recognize special events.

President Obama issued 66 proclamations to fly the flag at half-staff, exceeding President George W. Bush's 58 and Bill Clinton's 50, according to a USAToday analysis of presidential proclamations.

Still, there are no hard-and-fast rules for when a president should or shouldn't lower the flag.

"It's all politics," Charles A. Spain, a Houston attorney and director of the Flag Research Center, told USAToday. "What is the message that the administration wants to get out? And I would argue that one of the most powerful symbols you can use in the presidency is the flag."

"The fact that it’s not lowered is also a statement," he said. "Inaction is action."

Who can order the American flag flown at half-staff?

The president, a state governor or the mayor of the District of Columbia can order flags to fly at half-staff.

How long are flags lowered?

President Dwight Eisenhower first tried to give some order to the process, signing a proclamation in 1954 governing how many days the flag should be lowered on each occasion: Presidents and former presidents would get 30 days. Vice presidents, chief justices and House speakers would get 10 – and so on down the order of protocol.

Half-staff vs. half-mast

The US uses the phrase 'half-mast' to describe flags on ships only. Half-staff is used to describe partially raised flags on land.

When displayed at half-staff, flags are positioned one-half the distance between the top and bottom of the staff after being raised to the peak of the staff for an instant.

How to display the flag at half-staff

According to the flag code, "The flag, when flown at half-staff, should be first hoisted to the peak for an instant and then lowered to the half-staff position. The flag should be again raised to the peak before it is lowered for the day."

When should the US flag be on full display?

According to the flag code of the United States House, the American flag should be prominently displayed:

• New Year's Day, January 1

• Inauguration Day, January 20

• Martin Luther King Jr.'s birthday, third Monday in January

• Lincoln's Birthday, February 12

• Washington's Birthday, third Monday in February

• National Vietnam War Veterans Day, March 29

• Easter Sunday (variable)

• Mother's Day, second Sunday in May

• Armed Forces Day, third Saturday in May

• Memorial Day (half-staff until noon), the last Monday in May; Flag Day, June 14

• Father's Day, third Sunday in June

• Independence Day, July 4

• National Korean War Veterans Armistice Day, July 27

• Labor Day, first Monday in September

• Constitution Day, September 17

• Columbus Day, second Monday in October

• Navy Day, October 27

• Veterans Day, November 11

• Thanksgiving Day, fourth Thursday in November

• Christmas Day, December 25

• And such other days as may be proclaimed by the President of the United States; the birthdays of States (date of admission); and on State holidays.

Interestingly, the code also calls for the flag to be displayed daily on or near the main administration building of every public institution; in or near every polling place on election days as well as during school days in or near every schoolhouse.

The Rhode Island state flag

While the state flag was originally adopted in 1877, according to the Encyclopaedia Britannica, RI has been using the anchor icon for much longer, "The Rhode Island legislature adopted an anchor for its colonial seal in 1647, and in 1664 it added the motto 'Hope.' Those symbols were used on military flags by the time of the American Revolutionary War (1775–83), and Rhode Island ships may have used a simplified anchor flag by the early 19th century."

The precise look of the Rhode Island state flag is enshrined in state law:

The flag of the state shall be white, five feet and six inches (5'6") fly and four feet and ten inches (4'10") deep on the pike, bearing on each side in the center a gold anchor, twenty-two inches (22") high, and underneath it a blue ribbon twenty-four inches (24") long and five inches (5") wide, or in these proportions, with the motto "Hope" in golden letters thereon, the whole surrounded by thirteen (13) golden stars in a circle. The flag shall be edged with yellow fringe. The pike shall be surmounted by a spearhead and the length of the pike shall be nine feet (9'), not including the spearhead.

This article originally appeared on The Providence Journal: US and RI state flags are at half-staff around Rhode Island. Here's why