Stop Lowering the Flag

"The following week, more than 200 people attended Sitek's funeral. New York Governor Kathy Hochul had ordered American flags on government buildings across the state to be lowered to half-staff in his honor. In Binghamton, the lowered flag was a potent sign of a community in mourning. Elsewhere in the state, though-100 miles to the west or the north or the east-it would likely have elicited only a shrug."

"In the past 15 years, flags in New York have been lowered more than 250 times for a total of more than 850 days of public mourning. That equates to roughly one day a week. New York is not unique. States across the country now lower the flag for all manner of tragedies, as well as an array of annual federal observances, some of which-Peace Officers Memorial Day, for instance-many people do not realize exist."

"Lowering the flag was once a relatively rare symbol of public mourning and respect. But Sitek's flag lowering was the 21st in the state during the first seven months of this year-beginning with a month-long commemoration of President Jimmy Carter that started just before the new year and continuing with respects paid to, among others, four former members of Congress, two New York State Police officers, and a highway-maintenance supervisor for the state Department of Transportation."

James Sitek, chief of the West Colesville Fire Company, responded to a house fire near Binghamton and went into cardiac arrest shortly after emerging; he died later that day. Governor Kathy Hochul ordered flags across New York to half-staff; more than 200 people attended Sitek's funeral. Flags in New York have been lowered more than 250 times over 15 years, totaling over 850 days—roughly one day per week. The year included 21 flag lowerings in seven months, from a month-long commemoration of President Carter to honors for former members of Congress, police officers, and state workers. States nationwide now lower flags for many tragedies and federal observances, including lesser-known days such as Peace Officers Memorial Day. Ritual significance depends on meanings people attach, and frequent use risks diluting communal unity and producing generalized disquiet.

Read at The Atlantic