Tuesday is the last day flags will be at half-staff in Iowa after nearly an entire month of honoring former President Jimmy Carter.
Why are flags at half-staff in Iowa?
Gov. Kim Reynolds ordered all flags in Iowa to be lowered starting on Dec. 30, a day after the former president and World War II veteran died at the age of 100. Carter was the 39th president of the United States, serving from 1977 to 1981.
U.S. Code specifies that flags should fly at half-staff for 30 days after the death of a former president.
Reynolds, along with other Republican governors, ordered all flags to be raised for Jan. 20 in honor of President Donald Trump’s inauguration. Flags at Iowa state buildings returned to half-staff starting Jan. 21 and were ordered to remain down until sunset on Jan. 28, according to the governor’s office.
More: Why Jimmy Carter has a special place in Iowa lore: How he created the Iowa Caucus playbook
What’s the difference between half-mast and half-staff for flags?
Half-mast is used when the flag is flown from a flagpole, typically referring to a ship mast or similar structures, according to Federal Flags. Half-mast means the flag is flown two-thirds up between the top and bottom of the flagstaff.
Half-staff is the term used for flags on land, particularly in the United States. Half-staff describes a flag that is raised halfway, between the top and bottom of the flagpole.
When the American flag is flown at half-staff, it conveys a message of respect and mourning. Federal Flags says this custom is most often observed following the death of a government official, military personnel or in response to a national tragedy.
Register reporter Kate Kealey contributed to this report.
Cooper Worth is a service/trending reporter for the Des Moines Register. Reach him at cworth@gannett.com or follow him on X @CooperAWorth.
This article originally appeared on Des Moines Register: Why are flags at half-staff? Iowa flags going back up Wednesday
