<P> If more than one flag is flown on a half - mast day, they must all be flown at half - mast, or not at all . The flag of a foreign nation must never be flown at half - mast on UK soil unless that country has declared mourning . </P> <P> At the United Nations offices in New York and Geneva, the flag of the United Nations flies at half - mast on the day after the death of a Head of State or a Head of Government of a member state, but generally not during the funeral . Other occasions are at the Secretary - General's discretion . Other offices may follow local practice . To honor the memory of Dag Hammarskjöld the UN issued postage stamps showing its flag at half - mast . </P> <P> In the United States, the usual government term for non-nautical use is "half - staff ." While the term "half - mast" is commonly used in place of half - staff, U.S. law and post-WW - I military tradition indicate that "half - mast" is reserved to usage aboard a ship, where flags are typically flown from masts, and at naval ships ashore . Elsewhere ashore, flags are flown at "half - staff ." In addition, flags are lowered to half - staff, not raised . </P> <P> In the United States, the President can issue an executive order for the flag of the United States to be flown at half - staff upon the death of principal figures of the United States government and others, as a mark of respect to their memory . When such an order is issued, all government buildings, offices, public schools, and military bases are to fly their flags at half - staff . Under federal law (4 U.S.C. § 7 (f)), the flags of states, cities, localities, and pennants of societies, shall never be placed above the flag of the United States; thus, all other flags also fly at half - staff when the U.S. flag has been ordered to fly at half - staff . There is no penalty for failure to comply with the above law as to enforce such a penalty would violate the First Amendment . </P>

What does an american flag at half mast mean