Flags across Texas and the country are lowered to half-staff on Memorial Day to honor U.S. military service members who died in combat. Under U.S. flag code, flags are flown at half-staff from sunrise until noon on Memorial Day before being raised to full staff for the remainder of the day. The tradition symbolizes mourning in the earlier hours and a reminder that the nation lives in the afternoon.
Memorial Day is observed annually on the last Monday in May and is often considered the start of summer. It is one of several occasions each year when flags are lowered nationwide. Other national half-staff observances include National Firefighters Memorial Day on May 4, Peace Officer Memorial Day on May 15, Korean War Veterans Armistice Day on July 27, Patriot Day on Sept. 11, and Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day on Dec. 7.
President Dwight Eisenhower established standard flag procedures to be followed when a public official dies. For Texans who want to join in and lower flags at their homes or businesses, flag etiquette recommends first raising the flag completely to the top of the pole before lowering it to the halfway point. At sunset or when taking the flag down, it should again be raised fully before being lowered completely. The U.S. Flag Code defines half-staff as positioning the flag midway between the top and bottom of the pole.