How many flags at half mast today 4th? Report here

Hi Kossacks, I wrote a brief article or ltte after the Ft Bragg speech; It's getting some play online, and I'm curious today as to how many flags will be flown at half staff across the states.   Maybe some photos also of flags at half mast in your area?

Was hoping the idea of it would catch on and be a visual today across many states. I'm sure this diary will drop away, but thought I'd give it a try anyway.

My daughter, military wife and her friends, military wives appreciated the idea and planned to fly their flags at half mast on base where they are located.

article; Mr President I'll fly my flag at half staff July 4

http://news.baou.com/main.php?action=recent&rid=20320

http://www.mfso.org /

http://www.thenewstribune.com/opinion/letters/story/499...

http://washblog.typepad.com /

http://www.democrats.org/a/2005/07/open_thread_6.php

http://www.militaryproject.org/article.asp?id=605

text of article;

Mr President I'll fly my flag at half staff July 4,

I was struck by the demeanor of the 700 soldiers in dress uniform attending the President's speech last night at Ft Bragg. They were polite. The singular time there was applause came at the prompting of a White House Advance team person.

The soldiers were the dignity and nobility in that room last night. Their Commander in Chief, our President seems to have a way with exploiting the dignity of our military and our loved ones deployed who are doing the grist of the 'hard work' . The litany of disrespect shown to our troops by this President and this administration is a wearisome and growing list.

There will be much said about the President's speech and I took my own notes. I will do as the President asked and fly my flag on July 4th. I will fly it at half staff in respect for the fallen soldiers, for the fallen ideals of what the United States of America has come to represent, and as an effort to represent with dignity the soldiers who fight under the auspices of our flag and do so in honor, integrity and good faith. They are doing their job and their Commander, the President, needs to do them justice by doing his job.

I will fly my flag for them, Mr President, in respect for them. I will fly it at half staff. Would that you would so order, in the deepest respect, that Americans fly their flags on the Fourth of July at half staff to honor the troops who are doing the job with their very lives.

I have checked the protocols regarding the flag and checked with my Governor's office and there is no penalty or wrongdoing if I choose to fly my flag at half staff and when I indicated my reasons for wanting to do so I was given a welcome to do so....

•  Make Your Own Parade Route

  Instead of flying Old Glory at half-mast, I downloaded a couple of sheets of tiny Bush-faced paper flags, got some toothpicks and gluestick, went into Central Park and down Fifth Avenue placing them into piles of dogshit.

  Make your own parade route by downloading free paper flags at:  www.madeyouthink.org

  Not only will they cheer up fellow patriots, but I've discovered that pro-Bush people like the lady down my street will scoop up the dogshit to get rid of the flag...making this a win-win, don't you think?

  by diamondpen on Mon Jul 04, 2005 at 01:01:04 PM PDT

  •  diamondpen, not the point, point is to honor

     the soldiers who have given much for this flag, and I guess your right to do something to deface the flag.  I am not in agreement with defacing the flag and it wasn't my intent to write something rabid or radical.  It truly was my intention that a respectful visual give a message of hope and support to our troops in combat.  I wouldn't want to dishonor our soldiers but then I'm a military family and perhaps we see things differently.  

    by dyingwarriors on Mon Jul 04, 2005 at 01:07:57 PM PDT

    •  I would never deface the US flag

      With all due respect - and I do mean that, the flags I am using have Bush's face on them. I would never deface the American flag.

      I think your choice is an honorable one. My choice is of a different nature - not a commment on our soldiers, but a comment on our so-called commander-in-chief.

      by diamondpen on Mon Jul 04, 2005 at 01:39:13 PM PDT

•  Half-Staff

  The correct usage is "half-staff." The term "Half-mast" refers to flags on ships.

  by Pompatus on Mon Jul 04, 2005 at 01:21:12 PM PDT

  •  Not so sure about that; half mast is understood

     term and while you may be correct technically, I did some checking and flag at half mast is also correct to use; the meaning is understood across the spectrums.  As to it's absolute correctness, I couldn't say but I grew up, military brat, hearing half mast and I've heard it many times this week.

    Thank you though.

    by dyingwarriors on Mon Jul 04, 2005 at 03:47:35 PM PDT

•  Every year...

  Some real estate guy goes around and plants a flag in the front yard of each home in the neighborhood. He also leaves a flyer to let the homeowners know that he's available to sell their home for them.

  And every year we pull the flag out in protest of this form of flagification.

  This year I took the flag off of the dowel and stapled it into the half staff position...and put it back in the yard.

  Have not heard from anyone about it.

  by kredwyn on Mon Jul 04, 2005 at 01:29:10 PM PDT

•  In Wisconsin, many

  Gov. Doyle asked for all flags to be displayed at half-staff in honor of Sen. Gaylord Nelson's passing.

  by WI Deadhead on Mon Jul 04, 2005 at 02:36:24 PM PDT