<span style="font-weight: bold; font-family: ‘Lucida Sans’;" class="R~sep~ACopyBody">What’s the correct protocol for a flag to be hung at half-mast? I always thought it was for a president or some official like that, not just normal, everyday United States citizens.</span>

<span class="R~sep~ACopyBody">A set of federal statutes known as the Flag Code establishes protocols for the handling and display of the U.S. flag, including for whom — and for how long — it should be flown at half-staff as a symbol of mourning.</span>

<span class="R~sep~ACopyBody">“The section provides that the President shall order the flag flown at half-staff for stipulated periods ‘upon the death of principal figures of the United States Government and the Governor of a state, territory, or possession,’ ” reads a Congressional Research Service summary of the code.</span>

<span class="R~sep~ACopyBody">“After the death of other officials or foreign dignitaries, the flag may be flown at half-staff according to presidential instructions or in accordance with recognized custom not inconsistent with law.”</span>

<span class="R~sep~ACopyBody">But as The Informer has noted before, the provisions of the Flag Code are regarded chiefly as guidelines.</span>

<span class="R~sep~ACopyBody">President Obama on June 12 issued a presidential proclamation that ordered U.S. flags on federal property to be flown at half-staff until sunset June 16 “as a mark of respect for the victims of the act of hatred and terror perpetrated … in Orlando, Florida.”</span>

<span class="R~sep~ACopyBody">Similarly, Gov. John Bel Edwards a day later ordered that the state and U.S. flags — the Flag Code delegates such authority — be flown at half-staff over state property until sunset Thursday.</span>

<span class="R~sep~ACopyBody">According to USA Today, Obama has ordered the flag at half-staff — “half-mast” is used for flags on vessels — 66 times during his presidency.</span>

<span class="R~sep~ACopyBody">The numbers for other recent chief executives: George W. Bush, 58; Bill Clinton, 50; George H.W. Bush, eight; Ronald Reagan, 20; and Jimmy Carter, 10.</span>

<span class="R~sep~ACopyBody">Various Flag Code provisions:</span>

<span class="R~sep~ACopyListing">“The flag should be hoisted briskly and lowered ceremoniously.”</span>

<span class="R~sep~ACopyListing">“The flag should not be displayed on days when the weather is inclement, except when an all weather flag is displayed.”</span>

<span class="R~sep~ACopyListing">“The flag should be displayed during school days in or near every schoolhouse.”</span>

<span class="R~sep~ACopyListing">“The flag should never be displayed with the union down, except as a signal of dire distress in instances of extreme danger to life or property.”</span>

<span class="R~sep~ACopyListing">“The flag should never touch anything beneath it, such as the ground, the floor, water, or merchandise.”</span>

<span class="R~sep~ACopyListing">“The flag should never be carried flat or horizontally, but always aloft and free.</span>

<span class="R~sep~ACopyListing">“The flag should never be used as wearing apparel, bedding, or drapery. It should never be festooned, drawn back, nor up, in folds, but always allowed to fall free.”</span>

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<span style="font-weight: bold;" class="R~sep~ACopyEditors~sep~endnote">Online:</span> <span class="R~sep~ACopyEditors~sep~endnote">https://fas.org/sgp/crs.</span>

<span class="R~sep~AHeadBrief">La. 378 Spur work part of preparation</span>

<span style="font-weight: bold; font-family: ‘Lucida Sans’;" class="R~sep~ACopyBody">Why are the contractors clearing the right of way on the north side of La. 378 Spur in Moss Bluff? Rumor is that a new bridge is to be built.</span>

<span class="R~sep~ACopyBody">“The work taking place is utility relocation work in preparation for an upcoming bridge replacement project,” Deidra Druilhet, a state highway department spokeswoman, wrote in an email.</span>

<span class="R~sep~ACopyBody">“The proposed $2.5 million-$5 million project involves replacing the Indian Bayou bridge. This project is estimated to bid out for construction in September 2016.”</span>

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<span style="font-weight: bold;" class="R~sep~ACopyEditors~sep~endnote">Online:</span> <span class="R~sep~ACopyEditors~sep~endnote">www.dotd.la.gov.</span>

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<span style="font-size: 8pt;" class="R~sep~ACopyEditors~sep~endnote">The I</span><span style="font-size: 8pt;" class="R~sep~ACopyEditors~sep~endnote">nform</span><span style="font-size: 8pt;" class="R~sep~ACopyEditors~sep~endnote">er answers questions from rea</span><span style="font-size: 8pt;" class="R~sep~ACopyEditors~sep~endnote">ders each Sunday, Monday a</span><span style="font-size: 8pt;" class="R~sep~ACopyEditors~sep~endnote">nd Wednesday. It is re</span><span style="font-size: 8pt;" class="R~sep~ACopyEditors~sep~endnote">searched and written by</span> <span style="font-weight: bold; font-size: 8pt;" class="R~sep~ACopyEditors~sep~endnote">Andrew Perzo</span><span style="font-size: 8pt;" class="R~sep~ACopyEditors~sep~endnote">, an</span> <span style="font-style: italic; font-size: 8pt;" class="R~sep~ACopyEditors~sep~endnote">American Press</span> <span style="font-size: 8pt;" class="R~sep~ACopyEditors~sep~endnote">staff wri</span><span style="font-size: 8pt;" class="R~sep~ACopyEditors~sep~endnote">ter. To ask a question, call</span> <span style="font-size: 8pt;" class="R~sep~ACopyEditors~sep~endnote">494-409</span><span style="font-size: 8pt;" class="R~sep~ACopyEditors~sep~endnote">8 and leave voice mail, or ema</span><span style="font-size: 8pt;" class="R~sep~ACopyEditors~sep~endnote">il informer@americanpress.com.</span>