When and under what conditions does the American Flag fly at half-staff? With the death of Hubert H. Humphrey, the flag was at halfstaff at the U.S. Capitol, among other places. Humphrey rated the honor as a former vice president and as a U.S. senator. A presidential proclamation issued in 1954 set forth instructions as to when and for how long the flag should fly at half-staff. This was amended slightly in a joint resolution passed July 7, 1976 by the 94th Congress, section (mi of which reads; “The flag, when flown at halfstaff, should be first hoisted to the peak for an instant and then lowered to the half-staff position. The flag should be again raised to the peak before it is ‘lowered for the day. On Memorial Day the flag should be displayed at halfstaff until noon only, then raised to the top of the staff. By order of the President, the flag shall be flown at half-staff upon the death of principal figures of the United States Government and the Governor of a State, territory, or possession, as a mark of respect to their memory. “In the event of the death of other officials or foreign dignitaries, the flag is to be displayed at half-staff according to Presidential instructions or orders, or in accordance wtih recognized customs or practices not inconsistent with the law. In the event of the death of a present or former official of the government of any State, territory, or possession of the United States, the Govemor of that State, territory or possession may proclaim that the National flag shall be flown at half-staff. The flag shall be flown at halfstaff thirty days from the death of the President or a former President; ten days from the day of death of the Vice President, the Chief Justice or a retired Chief Justice of the United States, or the Speaker of the House of Representatives ; from the day of death until interment of an Associate Justice of the Supreme Court, a Secretary of an executive or military department, a former Vice President, or the Govemor of a State, territory, or possession ; and on the day of death and the following day for a member of Congress…”