This is where flags flew at half-staff in December

Introduction

If you are driving around and notice the American or Arizona flags flying at half-staff, you may wonder why. Sure, you know when a former president has died, but sometimes these are done in memory of a tragic event.

For all of 2020, we are going to tell you when and why the flags for the United States of America or Arizona are flown at half-staff. We'll also toss in those notices for other states as well.

The source for much of this information is FlagSteward.org

According to USFlag.org, which links to a copy of the United States Code, when the flag is flown at half-staff, it should first be hoisted to the peak and then lowered to half-staff. At sunset the flag should be raised back to full-staff and then lowered slowly all the way down.

The U.S. flag must be flown at half-staff for the following office holders or former holders:

• President of the United States or former president: 30 days from the date of death.
• Vice President, Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, retired Chief Justice or Speaker of the House of Representatives: 10 days from the date of death.
• Associate Justice of the Supreme Court, a member of the Cabinet, a former Vice President, President pro tempore of the Senate, Majority Leader of the House of Representatives and Minority Leader of the House: From the day of death until the date of interment.
• Unites States Senator, Representative, Delegate or the Resident Commissioner from the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico: In the District of Columbia the flag will fly at half-staff on the day of death and the following day, in the state, congressional district, territory or commonwealth of the deceased, the flag will fly at half-staff from the day of death until interment.
• Governor: Within the state, the flag will fly at half-staff from the day of death until interment.

The Old Farmers' Almanac was also used as a source.

Dec. 31, 2020

Virginia: As ordered by the Governor, all Commonwealth (state) flags atop the state Capitol and in the city of Norfolk and the counties of Accomack and Northampton will fly at half-staff Thursday Dec. 31, 2020, in honor of former Virginia Delegate Robert S. Bloxom Sr.

Dec. 30, 2020

Virginia: As ordered by the Governor, all Commonwealth (state) flags atop the state Capitol and in the cities of Hampton and Newport News will fly at half-staff Wednesday, Dec. 30, 2020, in honor of former Virginia Delegate Mayme BaCote.

Michigan: As ordered by the Governor, all flags at state facilities will fly at half-staff Wednesday, Dec. 30, 2020, in honor of Wayne County Sheriff Benny Napoleon, who died of complications of COVID-19 contracted in the line of duty.

Dec. 29, 2020

North Carolina: As ordered by the Governor, all flags at state facilities will fly at half-staff from Tuesday, Dec. 29, 2020, until sunset Friday, Jan. 1, 2021, in honor of former State Senator Marc Basnight.

Dec. 28, 2020

Illinois: As ordered by the Governor, all flags at state facilities will fly at half-staff Monday, Dec. 28, 2020 ( along with the ongoing half-staff order), in honor of Chicago Police Department's Field Training Officer Titus Theopsy Moore, who died from COVID-19 complications contracted in the line of duty.

Louisiana: As ordered by the Governor, all flags atop the state Capitol will fly at half-staff Monday, Dec. 28, 2020, in honor of former Louisiana State Senator Dr. Adam Tassin Jr.

Dec. 23, 2020

Texas: All flags at public facilities in the city of Killeen will fly at half-staff Wednesday, Dec. 23, 2020, in honor of former City Councilwoman Claudia Brown.

Dec. 19, 2020

Minnesota: As ordered by the Governor, all flags at state facilities will fly at half-staff Saturday, Dec. 19, 2020, in honor of all Minnesota residents who have died from COVID-19.

Vermont: as ordered by the Governor, all flags at state facilities will fly at half-staff Saturday, Dec. 19, 2020, in honor of all Vermonters who have died from COVID-19.

Dec. 18, 2020

North Carolina: As ordered by the Governor, all flags at state facilities will fly at half-staff beginning Friday, Dec. 18, 2020, and ending at sunset Sunday, Dec. 20, 2020, in honor of Concord Police Officer Jason Shuping, who was shot and killed in the line of duty.

Dec. 17, 2020

Kansas: All flags at public facilities in McPherson will fly at half-staff Wednesday, Dec. 17, 2020, in honor of McPherson Assistant City Manager Bo Carl Moddelmog.

Dec. 16, 2020

Alabama: As ordered by the Governor, all flags at public facilities will fly at half-staff Wednesday, Dec. 16, 2020 in honor of retired Command Sergeant Major Bennie G. Adkins, who died of COVID-19 complications.

Hawaii: As ordered by the Governor, all flags at public facilities will fly at half-staff Wednesday, Dec. 16, 2020, in honor of State Representative Harold Roger Jones.

Dec. 14, 2020

Missouri: As ordered by the Governor, all flags at government facilities in St. Louis County will fly at half-staff Monday, Dec. 14, 2020, in honor of Moline Acres Police Department Sergeant Herschel Turner Jr., who died in the line of duty.

Connecticut: As ordered by the Governor, all flags at state facilities will fly at half-staff Monday, Dec. 14, 2020, in honor of the 20 children and six adults who were killed eight years ago at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown.

Dec. 12, 2020

Wisconsin: As ordered by the Governor, all flags at state facilities will fly at half-staff beginning Saturday, Dec. 12, 2020, until sunset Friday, Dec. 18, 2020, in honor of Capt. Durwood "Hawk" Jones, a pilot with the 115th Fighter Wing out of Truax Field Air National Guard Bases, who died during a training mission.

North Carolina: As ordered by the Governor, all flags at state facilities will fly at half-staff beginning Saturday, Dec. 12, 2020, until sunset Monday, Dec. 14, 2020, in honor of Mount Holly Officer Tyler Avery Herndon, who died in the line of duty.

Dec. 11, 2020 updated

West Virginia: As ordered by the Governor, all flags atop the State Capitol and at state facilities across Hancock County will fly at half-staff Friday, Dec. 11, 2020, in honor of former West Virginia Delegate Samuel A. Love Jr.

Kansas: As ordered by the Governor, all flags at state facilities will fly at half-staff beginning Friday, Dec. 11, 2020, until sunset Monday, Dec. 14, 2020, in honor of the more than 2,000 Kansas lives lost to Covid-19.

Dec. 10, 2020

Georgia: As ordered by the Governor, all flags at state facilities will fly at half-staff Thursday, Dec. 10, 2020, in honor of the Honorable George H. Carley, former Chief Justice of the Georgia Supreme Court.

Dec. 9, 2020

New Hampshire: As ordered by the Governor, all flags at state facilities will fly at half-staff beginning Wednesday, Dec. 9, 2020, until a date not yet determined in honor of New Hampshire Speaker of the House Dick Hinch.

Dec. 8, 2020 updated

West Virginia: As ordered by the Governor, all flags atop the state Capitol and across Kanawha County will fly at half-staff Tuesday, Dec. 8, 2020, in honor of Charleston Police Officer Cassie Johnson, who was killed in the line of duty.

Texas: As ordered by the Governor, all flags at public facilities across Rockwell County will fly at half-staff beginning Tuesday, Dec. 8, 2020, until sunrise Friday, Dec. 11, 2020 in honor of County Commissioner David Magness.

Michigan: As ordered by the Governor, all flags at state facilities will fly at half-staff beginning Tuesday, Dec. 8, 2020 until sunset Friday, Dec. 18, 2020, in honor of those who have died of COVID-19.

Dec. 7, 2020

National Half-Staff: The flag will fly at half-staff across the United States of America and its territories Monday, Dec. 7, 2020, in observance of Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day.

South Dakota: As ordered by the Governor, all flags atop the State Capitol, concurrent with the National Half-Staff order, will fly at half-staff Monday, Dec. 7, 2020, in honor of former State Senator Theresa Two Bulls.

Dec. 6, 2020

Kansas: As ordered by the Governor, all flags at state facilities will fly at half-staff Sunday, Dec. 6, 2020, in honor of Tyler Charles Lockett, former Justice of the Kansas Supreme Court, who died of complications from COVID-19.

Florida: As ordered by the Governor, all flags at state and public facilities will fly at half-staff Sunday, Dec. 6, 2020, in honor of terrorist shooting victims Navy Ensign Joshua Watson, Airman Haitham and Airman Apprentice Walters, killed a year ago at Pensacola, NAS.

South Carolina: As ordered by the Governor, all flags atop the State Capitol will fly at half-staff Sunday, Dec. 6, 2020, in honor of Judge G. Ross Anderson Jr., Senior United States District Judge.

Dec. 4, 2020

South Dakota: As ordered by the Governor, all flags atop the state Capitol will fly at half-staff Friday, Dec. 4, 2020, in honor of former State Representative Milton Lakness.

New Jersey: AS ordered by the Governor, all flags at state public facilities will fly at half-staff beginning Friday, Dec. 4, 2020, until sunset Sunday, Dec. 6, 2020, in honor of State Police Trooper Recruit Lucas C. Homeijer, who died from a police training accident injury.

California: As ordered by the Governor, all flags atop the state Capitol, will fly at half-staff Friday, Dec. 4, 2020, in honor of San Francisco County Sheriff's Deputy Linton Earl Martin Sr., who died while on duty.

Dec. 3, 2020 updated

California: As ordered by the Governor, all flags atop the state Capitol will fly at half-staff Thursday, Dec. 3, 2020, as set by the Capitol staff, in honor of California Highway Patrol Officer Andy Ornelas, who died from injuries incurred during an on-duty motorcycle accident.

Wisconsin: As ordered by the Governor, all flags at state facilities will fly at half-staff beginning Thursday Dec. 3, 2020, and ending at sunset Saturday Dec. 5, 2020, in honor of Fire Captain Kelly Lynn Raether of the town of Ixonia Fire & EMS, who died after contracting COVID-19 in the line of duty.

Arkansas: As ordered by the Governor, all flags at state facilities will fly at half-staff beginning Thursday, Dec. 3, until sunset Tuesday, Dec. 8, 2020, in honor of North Little Rock Police Sergeant J.L. "Buck" Dancy, who died in the line of duty.

Dec. 2, 2020

Michigan: As ordered by the Governor, all flags at state facilities will fly at half-staff Wednesday Dec. 2, 2020, in honor of former state Senator Tom Casperson.

Massachusetts: As ordered by the Governor, all flags at state and public facilities will fly at half-staff Wednesday, Dec. 2, 2020, in honor of Staff Sergeant Mark Anthony Johnson, U.S. Army.

Dec. 1, 2020

Tennessee: All flags at public facilities in Montgomery County and Clarksville will fly at half-staff Tuesday, Dec. 1, 2020, in honor of Judge Raymond Grimes, who died after being hospitalized with COVID-19.

Alaska: AS ordered by the Governor, the state flag at public facilities will fly at half-staff Tuesday, Dec. 1, 2020, in honor of former State Representative James "Jamie" Fisher.

California: As ordered by the Governor, all flags atop the state Capitol will fly at half-staff from Tuesday, Dec. 1, 2020, through sunset Wednesday, Dec. 2, 2020, in honor of U.S. Air Force Captain Kelliann Leli, who died in a non-combat related vehicle incident at Al Dhafra Air Base, United Arab Emirates.