Flags at half-staff today mark Peace Officers Memorial Day, placed by a presidential proclamation signed by President Donald Trump, honoring law enforcement officers who were killed or injured in the line of duty.
The observance takes place during National Police Week, and the proclamation directs flags to be lowered from sunrise until sunset, a practice many governors echo at state facilities.
The Mississippi Department of Public Safety held its annual fallen officer memorial ceremony, and other law enforcement agencies staged local services to remember officers who died while serving.
State Orders And Flag Protocol
The US Flag Resource explains the basic display rules, noting flags normally fly from sunrise to sunset and may remain up overnight if properly illuminated, and that specific days require flags at half-staff by presidential or gubernatorial order.
Governors have used that authority to lower flags for a range of events and individuals, including proclamations honoring military veterans, public servants, and victims of mass violence, as posted in state notices.
Examples cited in state announcements include orders to honor a World War II airman, interments of former officials and judges, Hmong‑Lao Veterans Day observances, mass shooting victims in Shreveport, and fallen local law enforcement officers, among other tributes.
Some governors directed flags at half-staff across entire states or at all state agency facilities, while others limited displays to capitol grounds or specific local government sites, reflecting differing scopes of authority in the notices.
State releases also set time frames for observances, ranging from sunrise to sunset on the designated day to multi‑day periods surrounding funerals and memorial events, and they reference state statutes or executive orders when applicable.
Taken together, the presidential proclamation for Peace Officers Memorial Day and multiple gubernatorial actions account for the widespread lowering of flags at public buildings and government grounds today.
