National Fallen Firefighters Memorial Weekend: Why are flags being flown at half staff this weekend?
Flags are typically lowered as a sign of respect for many occasions, including significant or tragic events, the death of a former official, or in honor of a particular person or group.
The latter is the case this weekend, when flags will be flown at half-staff in recognition of National Fallen Firefighters Memorial Weekend.
President Donald Trump signed an order at the end of April to declaring National Fallen Firefighters Memorial Weekend to honor “the brave volunteer and career firefighters who have sacrificed their lives in the line of duty – with special reverence for those we have lost over the past year – whose courage and devotion to their communities will never be forgotten.
“We carry their memories forward in gratitude along with the enduring promise of a Nation forever changed by their sacrifice,” the order added.
National Fallen Firefighters Memorial Weekend is May 2-3. Trump ordered flags to be lowered to half-staff at all federal office buildings on Sunday, May 3. Some states moved to lower the entire weekend as well.
Important to note – the correct term for lowering the flags is “half-staff” not “half-mast.” Half-staff is the correct term for a flag flown on land, while half-mast is used on ships.
