How Do I Display The Texas Flag On Upcoming May Flag Holidays?
We received a communication from the Texas Governors' Office on Thursday with a reminder of how the flag of our Great State should be flown on a couple of upcoming flag holidays, state and national. Being the banner-carrying, flag-waving proud Texan that I am, I thought I would pass it along to you as well, fellow patriot.
The emailed memorandum is actually directed at Texas State agencies so that they know how the State flag should be displayed on these specific holidays. But, if you're like me, this stuff is important and should be followed as best you can by any proud Texan.
This memorandum comes from Gregory Scott Davidson, Executive Clerk Director of the Constituent Communication Division, Office of the Governor of Texas.
Displaying the state and national flag is an important duty in carrying out our mission for the State of Texas. In addition to creating an identity for the people of Texas, the proper display of the flag leads the people in times of joy and mourning, and in times of celebration and somber reflection.
There are two dates in the month of May that require particular attention with regard to how state and national flags should be displayed: Monday, May 15, 2023 (Peace Officer Memorial Day) and Monday, May 29, 2023 (Memorial Day).
Please take note of the laws concerning these official state observances:
Peace Officer Memorial Day: On the morning of Monday, May 15, both the State of Texas and U.S. flag should be raised briskly to full-staff and then slowly lowered to half-staff for the remainder of the display day. Flags should be returned to full-staff on the next day.
Memorial Day: On the morning of Monday, May 29, both the State of Texas and U.S. flag should be raised briskly to full-staff and then slowly lowered to half-staff where they will remain until noon. At noon, both flags should be raised briskly to full-staff for the remainder of the display day. Flags should be at full-staff the following day.
State agencies are not required to schedule employees for duty on holiday or weekend hours only to comply with flag-flying issues. These requirements only apply to days your agency displays the flag.
To avoid confusion, flags should be flown according to statutory standards and proper procedures of protocol. If your agency is unable to comply with these laws, you should remove all flags from your flag displays for the duration of the memorial events specified above in law.
An informal “best practices” information sheet appears below to help distill the statutory information.
Respectfully,
Greg Davidson
BEST PRACTICES CONCERNING THE FLYING OF STATE AND NATIONAL FLAGS
General Rules
- No flag should fly above the U.S. flag or State of Texas flag.
- If a flag cannot be properly displayed in relation to the previous rule, then that flag should be grounded and removed from the pole or display.
- When U.S. flags are ordered to half-staff
Requirements:
- The U.S. flag shall be flown at half-staff.
- Since no flag in any display shall fly above the U.S. flag, the State of Texas and other flags shall be flown at half-staff for the same duration of time as the U.S. flag.
- At the beginning of the day on which flags have been ordered to half-staff, the U.S. flag shall be raised briskly to the peak of the flagpole and then slowly lowered to the position of half-staff.
- Particular flag displays:
1. Single-flagpole display: if the U.S. flag and State of Texas flag are displayed on the same flagpole, both flags shall be flown at half-staff.
2. Multiple-flagpole display: if the U.S. flag and State of Texas flag are in the same display but on separate poles, both flags should be lowered to half-staff. If the U.S. flag and State of Texas flag are displayed along with historical replica flags of other nations (e.g., Spain, France, Mexico, and the Confederacy), then the U.S. and State of Texas flags should be displayed at half-staff, and the replica flags should be removed from the display for the period of time that the flags have been ordered to half-staff.
When only the State of Texas flag is ordered to half-staff:
- The U.S. flag shall remain at full-staff.
- At the beginning of the day, the State of Texas flag shall be raised briskly to the peak of the flagpole and then slowly lowered to the position of half-staff for the rest of the day.
- No flag in any display shall fly above the U.S. flag or State of Texas flag.
Particular flag displays:
- 1. Single-flagpole display: if U.S. and State of Texas flags are displayed on the same flagpole, the agency has two options: (a) remove the State of Texas flag from the pole and keep the U.S. flag flying at full-staff; (b) remove the U.S. flag from the pole and fly the State of Texas flag at half-staff. It is not appropriate to have the U.S. flag at full-staff and the State of Texas flag at half-staff on the same pole.
- 2. Multiple-flagpole display: if U.S. and State of Texas flags are in the same display on separate poles, the U.S. flag may be displayed at full-staff, and the State of Texas flag should be lowered to half-staff. If U.S. and State of Texas flags are displayed along with historical replica flags of other nations (e.g., Spain, France, Mexico, and the Confederacy), then the U.S. flag may be flown at full-staff and the State of Texas flag should be displayed at half-staff. Any foreign or replica flags should be either flown at half-staff or removed from the display for the period of time that the flags have been ordered to half-staff.
There you go fellow Texans, hope this helps.
