3.100 Flag Policy

All County departments shall display the flag(s) at half staff at County buildings and grounds in accordance with this policy.

The Flag Code Title 36, U.S.C., Chapter 10 as amended by Public Law 322, 103^rd Congress, approved September 13, 1994 states, “…by order of the President, the flag shall be flown at half staff upon the death of principal figures of the United States government and the Governor of a State, territory, or possession, as a mark of respect to their memory. In the event of the death of other officials or foreign dignitaries, the flag is to be displayed at half-staff according to Presidential instructions or orders, or in accordance with recognized customs or practices not inconsistent with law. In the event of the death of a present or former official of the government of any State, territory, or possession, the Governor of that State, territory, or possession may proclaim that the National Flag shall be flown at half-staff. The flag shall be flown at half-staff thirty days from the death of the President or a former President; ten days from the death of the Vice-President, the Chief Justice or a retired Chief Justice of the United States, or an Associate Justice of the Supreme Court, or the Speaker of the House of Representatives; from the day of death until internment of an Associate Justice of the Supreme Court, a Secretary of an executive or military department, a former Vice-President, or Governor of a State, territory, or possession; and on the day of death and the following day for a Member of Congress.

By Resolution of the Board of Supervisors, the flags of the United States, the State of California and the County of Los Angeles can be flown at half-staff upon the death of public officials at all levels of government. When death of the public official to be so honored is verified, flags shall be flown at half staff immediately. The flags shall remain at half staff during each day they are normally flown until lowered at the end of the day on which the funeral is solemnized.

On occasions where law enforcement personnel are killed in the line of duty, the Board of Supervisors may deem it appropriate to order all flags flown at half-staff. Finally, the honor and reverence accorded this solemn act should not be diminished by the display of the flag at half-staff on occasions of local tragedy wherein a County flag flown at half-staff would be more appropriate.

The flag shall be raised to the peak for an instant and then lowered to the half-staff position midway between the top and the bottom of the staff. The flag should be again raised to the peak before it is lowered for the day. The flag must never touch the ground when being raised or lowered. The flag should be raised briskly and lowered slowly and ceremoniously. At no time shall any other flag be above the United States Flag. When the United States Flag is lowered to half-mast position, other flags should similarly be lowered.

The flags are flown at half-staff until 12:00 noon, and raised to the peak for the remainder of the day. This is covered by Public Law 829 passed by the 77th Congress. On motion by the Board of Supervisors, June 27, 1989, the flags of the United States, the State of California and the County of Los Angeles will be flown at half-staff on Memorial Day.

On motion by the Board of Supervisors, September 16, 1997, the POW/MIA flag would also be flown at half-staff on Memorial Day.

On motion by the Board of Supervisors, June 27, 1989, the flags of the United States, the State of California and the County of Los Angeles will be flown at half-staff on Veterans’ Day.

On motion by the Board, September 16, 1997, the POW/MIA flag would also be flown at half-staff on Veterans’ Day.

National Korean War Veterans’ Armistice Day

On motion by the Board of Supervisors, July 23, 1996, the Board authorized the flying of flags at half-staff on July 27^th of each year until the year 2003.

National POW/MIA Day

On motion by the Board of Supervisors, September 16, 1997, the Board recognized the third Friday in September of each year as a day for POW/MIA and their families throughout Los Angeles County.

The Board agreed to display the POW/MIA flag, as read in HR 116 and its Counterpart bill, U.S. S528, on Memorial Day, Armed Forces Day (third Saturday in May), Flag Day (June 14^th), Independence Day, Veterans’ Day and National POW/MIA day.

Peace Officers Memorial Day

On motion by the Board of Supervisors, May 21, 2002, the United States flag will be flown at half-staff at all County facilities each year on May 15^th, in accordance with Public Law 103-322 and the Congressional Joint Resolution approved October 1, 1962, designating May 15^th of each year as “Peace Officers Memorial Day,” and the week in which it falls as “Police Week.”

Policy #:	Title:	Effective Date:
3.100	Flag Policy	09/16/97


POLICY ON DISPLAYING THE FLAG AT HALF STAFF All County departments shall display the flag(s) at half staff at County buildings and grounds in accordance with this policy. The Flag Code Title 36, U.S.C., Chapter 10 as amended by Public Law 322, 103^rd Congress, approved September 13, 1994 states, “…by order of the President, the flag shall be flown at half staff upon the death of principal figures of the United States government and the Governor of a State, territory, or possession, as a mark of respect to their memory. In the event of the death of other officials or foreign dignitaries, the flag is to be displayed at half-staff according to Presidential instructions or orders, or in accordance with recognized customs or practices not inconsistent with law. In the event of the death of a present or former official of the government of any State, territory, or possession, the Governor of that State, territory, or possession may proclaim that the National Flag shall be flown at half-staff. The flag shall be flown at half-staff thirty days from the death of the President or a former President; ten days from the death of the Vice-President, the Chief Justice or a retired Chief Justice of the United States, or an Associate Justice of the Supreme Court, or the Speaker of the House of Representatives; from the day of death until internment of an Associate Justice of the Supreme Court, a Secretary of an executive or military department, a former Vice-President, or Governor of a State, territory, or possession; and on the day of death and the following day for a Member of Congress. Display of Flag at Half Staff in Honor of Deceased Person By Resolution of the Board of Supervisors, the flags of the United States, the State of California and the County of Los Angeles can be flown at half-staff upon the death of public officials at all levels of government. When death of the public official to be so honored is verified, flags shall be flown at half staff immediately. The flags shall remain at half staff during each day they are normally flown until lowered at the end of the day on which the funeral is solemnized. On occasions where law enforcement personnel are killed in the line of duty, the Board of Supervisors may deem it appropriate to order all flags flown at half-staff. Finally, the honor and reverence accorded this solemn act should not be diminished by the display of the flag at half-staff on occasions of local tragedy wherein a County flag flown at half-staff would be more appropriate. METHOD FOR PLACING FLAG AT HALF-STAFF The flag shall be raised to the peak for an instant and then lowered to the half-staff position midway between the top and the bottom of the staff. The flag should be again raised to the peak before it is lowered for the day. The flag must never touch the ground when being raised or lowered. The flag should be raised briskly and lowered slowly and ceremoniously. At no time shall any other flag be above the United States Flag. When the United States Flag is lowered to half-mast position, other flags should similarly be lowered. WHEN TO DISPLAY FLAG AT HALF-STAFF Memorial Day The flags are flown at half-staff until 12:00 noon, and raised to the peak for the remainder of the day. This is covered by Public Law 829 passed by the 77th Congress. On motion by the Board of Supervisors, June 27, 1989, the flags of the United States, the State of California and the County of Los Angeles will be flown at half-staff on Memorial Day. On motion by the Board of Supervisors, September 16, 1997, the POW/MIA flag would also be flown at half-staff on Memorial Day. Veterans’ Day On motion by the Board of Supervisors, June 27, 1989, the flags of the United States, the State of California and the County of Los Angeles will be flown at half-staff on Veterans’ Day. On motion by the Board, September 16, 1997, the POW/MIA flag would also be flown at half-staff on Veterans’ Day. National Korean War Veterans’ Armistice Day On motion by the Board of Supervisors, July 23, 1996, the Board authorized the flying of flags at half-staff on July 27^th of each year until the year 2003. National POW/MIA Day On motion by the Board of Supervisors, September 16, 1997, the Board recognized the third Friday in September of each year as a day for POW/MIA and their families throughout Los Angeles County. The Board agreed to display the POW/MIA flag, as read in HR 116 and its Counterpart bill, U.S. S528, on Memorial Day, Armed Forces Day (third Saturday in May), Flag Day (June 14^th), Independence Day, Veterans’ Day and National POW/MIA day. Peace Officers Memorial Day On motion by the Board of Supervisors, May 21, 2002, the United States flag will be flown at half-staff at all County facilities each year on May 15^th, in accordance with Public Law 103-322 and the Congressional Joint Resolution approved October 1, 1962, designating May 15^th of each year as “Peace Officers Memorial Day,” and the week in which it falls as “Police Week.” Other Days It is customary to honor prominent public officials holding office at the time of their deaths. Los Angeles County shall use the following list:

	Federal Government:	President, Vice President, US Supreme Court Justice, Members of Congress and a Secretary of an executive or military department

	State Government:	Governor, incumbent judge of the Superior Court or Justice Court*

	Local Government:	Members of the Board of Supervisors

	City Officials:	City Mayors and Council Members**

	In the event of the death of a Superior Court Judge, the County flag shall be flown at half-staff at all Superior Court facilities and at all County buildings in the branch Civic Center where the affected courts are located. *The County flag shall be flown at half-staff at County facilities located in or near the Civic Center of an incorporated city when the City’s Flags are lowered to half-staff.

	Such Others:	As ordered by Resolution of the Board of Supervisors.

METHOD OF NOTIFICATION The Clerk of the Board of Supervisors, upon verifying the death of a person for whom the flags are to be flown at half-staff, shall notify the appropriate departments, who shall in turn notify the facilities indicated in the listing entitled, “Checklist for Lowering Flag Faxes”.

Issue Date: September 16, 1997	Sunset Review Date: September 16, 2001
Review Date: November 21, 2002	Sunset Review Date: November 21, 2006
Review Date: November 16, 2006	Sunset Review Date: November 21, 2011

National Korean War Veterans’ Armistice Day

National POW/MIA Day

Peace Officers Memorial Day

Other Days