05/22/2026
What Memorial Day Truly Means
Originally known as Decoration Day, Memorial Day is a sacred time to commemorate those who died in military service. Unlike Veterans Day, which celebrates all who served, Memorial Day is specifically dedicated to the fallen. It’s a day of national mourning, but also a day of pride in the legacy of freedom they left behind.
The Half-Staff Tradition
There is a unique protocol for flying the American flag on Memorial Day that many people are surprised to learn:
The Morning: The flag should be hoisted briskly to the peak for an instant and then solemnly lowered to the half-staff position.
The Afternoon: At precisely 12:00 PM (noon), the flag should be raised to the very top of the staff.
The Sunset: The flag remains at full staff until sunset, symbolizing that the nation lives on through the memory of our heroes.
No Inground Pole? Use a Mourning Ribbon
If you display your flag from a wall-mounted bracket or a short pole where lowering it to half-staff isn’t physically possible, you can still observe the tradition with a Mourning Ribbon.
Pro-Tip: Attach a black crepe ribbon to the top of your flag pole. The ribbon should be the same width as a stripe on the flag and flow freely. This “Black Ribbon” method is the official way to signify mourning on flags that are fixed in place.
