You’re driving to work, or maybe just walking the dog, and you look up. There it is. The American flag, sitting halfway down the pole, looking a bit lonely and somber. Your brain immediately goes to the same place mine does: Wait, what happened? You start scrolling through your phone, looking for some major national tragedy or the passing of a household name.
Usually, when you’re asking why is flag at 1 2 mast today, the answer isn't a massive national headline. Often, it’s a localized tribute, a state-specific honor, or a specific military remembrance that didn't make the front page of the New York Times.
Honestly, the rules for "half-staff" (the maritime and proper land term) versus "half-mast" (mostly a naval term, though we use them interchangeably in casual talk) are pretty rigid. But they are also constantly changing based on who is being honored at any given moment. Today, January 18, 2026, the reasons vary significantly depending on where you are standing.
The National Perspective: Are we in a mourning period?
Right now, across the United States, we are just a day away from a massive shift in the flag's position. Tomorrow is Martin Luther King Jr. Day, which is also falling on Inauguration Day 2026 this year. That is a rare overlap. Generally, on Inauguration Day, flags fly at full staff to celebrate the peaceful transfer of power and the new administration.
However, today—the Sunday before the big events—many flags are still at half-staff due to overlapping proclamations from earlier in the month.
You see, flag status isn't always a "one and done" thing. If the President or a Governor issues an order, it usually lasts for a specific window. For instance, in Arizona, flags have been lowered recently to honor former Attorney General Mark Brnovich. In other states like West Virginia, Governor Patrick Morrisey just issued orders to honor former Delegate Paul Prunty, a man who spent eleven terms serving his community.
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If you see a flag lowered today, it’s often a "Day of Interment" order. These are specifically for the day a fallen hero—a soldier, a police officer, or a longtime public servant—is actually laid to rest.
State-Specific Orders for January 18
If you are in the Northeast or the Midwest, you’re more likely to see the flag at half-staff today than if you’re in, say, California.
- Arizona: Flags are lowered at all state buildings in honor of Mark Brnovich. He was a major figure in the state's legal history, and Governor Katie Hobbs directed the flags to stay down until further notice or through the burial.
- West Virginia: The state is mourning Paul Prunty. He wasn't just a politician; he was the guy who helped establish Valley Falls State Park. When local leaders like that pass, the flag goes down to show the community that a "giant" has left the building.
- Maryland: There have been recent orders for Detective Paul Hoke. When a member of law enforcement dies in the line of duty, the protocol is very specific. The flag stays down from the time of death until the sunset of the day of the funeral.
It’s kinda interesting how we do this. We think of the flag as a national symbol, but it’s really the ultimate local tribute.
What most people get wrong about "Half-Mast"
Kinda funny—most people call it "half-mast" regardless of where the flag is. But if you’re on land, the "experts" (and the U.S. Flag Code) say it’s "half-staff." You only use "half-mast" when you're on a ship.
Does it really matter? Probably not to you or me while we're stuck in traffic. But to the VFW guys or the people who handle protocol, it's a big deal.
Another thing people miss: you don’t just hoist the flag to the middle. There’s a specific dance to it. To put a flag at half-staff, you have to briskly hoist it to the very top (the "peak") for a tiny second, then slowly lower it to the halfway mark. When you take it down at the end of the day? Same thing. You raise it to the top again before bringing it all the way down.
It’s meant to be a salute. You’re acknowledging the full height of what the flag represents before you let it rest in mourning.
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Who actually has the power to lower the flag?
You can’t just decide your neighbor was a great guy and lower the flag at the local post office. Only a few people have the legal "authority" to make that call:
- The President: For national figures or tragedies.
- The Governor: For state figures or local heroes.
- The Mayor of D.C.: Because D.C. is its own weird entity.
When the President orders it, everyone follows suit. When a Governor orders it, only state buildings must do it, though most private businesses and homes will follow along as a sign of respect.
Why do we do it for so long sometimes? If a former President dies, the flag stays at half-staff for 30 days. For a Vice President, it’s 10 days. For a member of Congress? Just on the day of death and the following day. It’s a literal hierarchy of grief.
The 2026 Context: Why it feels like the flag is always down
Lately, it feels like the flag is at half-staff more than it's at the top. Part of that is because the "Honoring Hometown Heroes Act" made it easier for Governors to order the flag lowered for first responders who die in the line of duty.
In the "old days," it was mostly for presidents and senators. Now, we use it to honor the people who actually keep our neighborhoods safe—cops, firefighters, and EMTs. That’s why you might see the flag down at your local fire station even if there’s nothing on the national news.
Basically, if you’re seeing the flag at 1 2 mast today, it’s a silent "thank you" to someone who gave a significant chunk of their life—or their life itself—to the public.
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How to check the status yourself
If you want to be the person who actually knows the answer when someone asks, you don't have to guess. Most state government websites have a "Flag Status" page.
- Check the Governor's press release section for your specific state.
- Look for Flag Alerts from the Department of Administration.
- Remember that many orders are "Sunrise to Sunset." If it’s 8:00 PM and the flag is still at half-staff but not lit up, someone probably just forgot to take it down.
Tomorrow, for Martin Luther King Jr. Day and the Inauguration, expect those flags to be flying high and proud. But for today, we’re in a moment of reflection for those local leaders and heroes who recently finished their watch.
Next Steps for Flag Owners:
If you fly a flag at home and want to follow protocol for today, check your specific Governor’s office website to see if a local proclamation is active for your county. If you cannot lower your flag (for instance, if it’s fixed to a house bracket), the proper etiquette is to attach a black crepe streamer to the top of the staff to indicate mourning.