Driving around the North Country I have found that several organizations and localities have been displaying (flying) their American flags at half-staff. The U.S. flag code is very specific as to when a flag can be flown at half-staff and who can give authorization. “Only the president of the U.S. or your state governor can order the U.S. flag lowered to half-staff. You can half-staff your company flag, which has the advantage of informing passersby and uninformed employees, clients, etc., that someone important to your company has died.” When a directive is issued either by the president or the governor, it is very specific as to the duration that the flags are flown at half-staff. If everyone were to half-staff the US flag at will, the symbolic value of that honor would be lost.