Why flags are at half-staff, half-mast today in Ohio

Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine has ordered Tuesday that flags on all public buildings and grounds throughout the state will be flown at half-staff until Thursday "in response to the unprovoked attack and invasion of Israel."

DeWine's order comes in the days following the onslaught by the Palestinian Islamist group Hamas on Saturday morning, which claimed the lives of over 1,000 Israeli civilians and soldiers including a deadly attack on a music festival that claimed the lives of hundreds.

The Biden administration said Monday that at least 11 Americans have been killed in the terrorist attacks, USA Today reported. And the White House confirmed it believes at least some Americans are among the hostages that Hamas operatives abducted and brought back with them to Gaza.

DeWine's order will be in effect from sunrise Tuesday until sunset on Thursday.

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)

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.

USA Today contributed to this report.

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This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Why flags are at half-staff, half-mast today in Ohio