Pearl Harbor, Bob Dole: Here are why American flags are at half-staff today
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Flags are being lowered to half-staff today to honor Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day and the life of Senator Bob Dole.
On Dec. 7, 1941, 2,403 service members and civilians were killed and 1,178 others were injured during the attack on Pearl Harbor, which led to the United States involvement in World War II.
The attack also sank USS Arizona and USS Utah, both U.S. Navy battleships.
National Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day was designated on Aug. 23, 1994.
Dole, who died Sunday, served in World War II as an Army platoon leader in Italy.
He suffered various permanent injuries, including permanent damage to his right arm and chronic numbness in some of the fingers of his left hand.
Dole served as a U.S. Congressman and Senator from Kansas for over 30 years and ran for U.S. President in 1996.
Here's what we know about why and when American flags are flown at half-staff.
Who can ask for U.S. flags to be displayed at half-staff?
U.S. presidents and state governors can call for flags can be displayed at half-staff when a well-known person dies or if there is a national tragedy.
President Joe Biden issued proclamations to honor Dole through Saturday and remember those who died at Pearl Harbor on Pearl Harbor Memorial Day.
What time are flags displayed at half-staff?
Customs call for flags to be shown at half-staff from sunrise to sunset unless the flag can be illuminated overnight.
Holidays where the flag is half-staff around the country
May 15 - Peace Officers Memorial Day (half-staff all day)
Last Monday in May - Memorial Day (half-staff until noon)
Sept. 11 - Patriot Day (half-staff all day)
First Sunday in October - Fallen Fighters Fallen Firefighters (half-staff all day)
Dec. 7 - Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day (half-staff all day)
Courtesy of aflag.com and halfstaffalert.org.
What's the difference between half-mast and half-staff?
According to The Sextant, the Naval History and Heritage Command’s blog, half-mast refers to lowered flags on a ship, while half-staff is a pole in the ground. But the blog continues to say half-mast is used outside the U.S.
This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Why U.S. flags are at half-staff today and when are they lowered?
