<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> <P> Governors of U.S. states and territories are authorized by federal law to order all U.S. and state flags in their jurisdiction flown at half - staff as a mark of respect for a former or current state official who has died, or for a member of the armed forces who has died in active duty . The governor's authority to issue the order is more restricted than the president's, and does not include discretion to issue the order for state residents who do not meet the criteria stated . Since a governor's executive order affects only his or her state, not the entire country, these orders are distinguished from presidential proclamations . </P>

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