John P. McDonough, Secretary of State     ~     Brian R. Moe, Deputy Secretary of State

Flying Maryland's Flag at full staff - Date & Commemoration

The Maryland Flag is flying at half staff. MD FLAG STATUS AT A GLANCE
Date Commemoration
Maryland citizens like to know whenever Governor O'Malley has declared that flags—both U.S. and State, are to be flown at half-staff. If you would like to be added to our distribution list, please click here. Our flag alert system will automatically notify you via email of any change in flag status.
 

In response to inquiries we have received, the Office of the Secretary of State would like to explain the recent implementation of Public Law 110-41. This federal law authorizes the Governor of a State to order that the U.S. flag be flown at half staff in the event of the death of a member of the Armed Forces from that State who dies while serving on active duty. To further honor the sacrifice of this individual, Governor O'Malley has ordered both the United States Flag and the Maryland State Flag flown at half staff.

State Flag Protocol
July 27, 2009 This is to advise you that Governor Martin O’Malley has ordered the United States Flag and Maryland State Flag flown at half staff on Monday, July 27, 2009, from sunrise to sunset. This is in honor of National Korean War Veterans Armistice Day, in memory of the Americans who died as a result of their service in the Korean War.  
July 3, 2009 This is to advise you that Governor Martin O’Malley has ordered the United States Flag and Maryland State Flag flown at half staff on Friday, July 3, 2009, from sunrise to sunset. This is in memory of Army Sgt. Rodrigo A. Munguia Rivas of Germantown, Maryland, who died on June 21, 2009 in Bagram, Afghanistan while supporting Operation Enduring Freedom.  
May 25, 2009 This is to advise you that Governor Martin O’Malley has ordered the United States Flag and Maryland State Flag flown at half staff from sunrise to NOON on Monday, May 25, 2009. This action is in honor of Memorial Day, in memory of the brave Americans who have sacrificed their lives for the cause of freedom and security of our Nation.  
May 21, 2009 This is to advise you that Governor Martin O’Malley has ordered the United States Flag and Maryland State Flag flown at half staff on Thursday, May 21, 2009, from sunrise to sunset. This is in memory of Army SPC Michael E. Yates, Jr. of Federalsburg, Maryland, who died on May 11, 2009 in Camp Liberty, Baghdad while supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom.  
May 19, 2009 This is to advise you that Governor Martin O’Malley has ordered the Maryland State Flag flown at half staff on Tuesday, May 19, 2009, from sunrise to sunset. This is in memory of Former Delegate Pauline H. Menes, a Member of the Maryland House of Delegates from 1967 to 2007, who passed away on May 16, 2009. Delegate Menes was House Parliamentarian from 1995 to 2007, co-founder and first chair of the Women’s Legislative Caucus, and helped pass over 2,000 bills and policy changes during her 40-year career in the Maryland General Assembly.  
May 15, 2009 In accordance with President Obama’s proclamation, Governor Martin O’Malley has ordered that the United States Flag and the Maryland State Flag be flown at half staff on Friday, May 15, 2009 from sunrise to sunset in honor of Peace Officers Memorial Day.  
May 12, 2009 This is to advise you that Governor Martin O’Malley has ordered the United States Flag and Maryland State Flag flown at half staff on Tuesday, May 12, 2009, from sunrise to sunset. This is in memory of Marine Sgt. James R. McIlvaine of Olney, Maryland, who died on April 30, 2009 while supporting combat operations in Al Anbar province, Iraq.  
April 16, 2009 This is to advise you that Governor Martin O’Malley has ordered the Maryland State Flag flown at half staff in memory of Chief Charles “Buck” Clough, Jr., Fire Chief of the Sudlersville Volunteer Fire Department, Station 6 in Queen Anne’s County, until sunset on Sunday, April 19, 2009.  
March 13, 2009 This is to advise you that Governor Martin O’Malley has ordered the United States Flag and Maryland State Flag flown at half staff on Monday, March 16, 2009, from sunrise to sunset. This is in memory of Army Captain Brian M. Bunting, of Potomac, Maryland, who died on February 24, 2009 in Kandahar, Afghanistan while supporting Operation Enduring Freedom.  
March 12, 2009 This is to advise you that Governor Martin O’Malley has ordered the Maryland State Flag flown at half staff on Saturday, March 14, 2009, from sunrise to sunset. This is in memory of Former State Delegate and Harford County Council Member Joanne Parrott. Ms. Parrott was President of MACo in 1998 and was an active member while on the Harford County Council.  
December 9, 2008 This is to advise you that Governor Martin O’Malley has ordered the United States Flag and Maryland State Flag flown at half staff on Tuesday, December 9, 2008, from sunrise to sunset. This is in memory of Army Master Sgt. Anthony Davis, who grew up in Baltimore, Maryland and graduated from St. Frances Academy, who died on November 25, 2008 while supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom.  
December 7, 2008 This is to advise you that Governor Martin O’Malley has ordered the United States Flag and Maryland State Flag flown at half staff on Sunday, December 7, 2008, from sunrise to sunset. This action is in honor of National Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day, in memory of the brave Americans who have sacrificed their lives for the cause of freedom and security of our Nation.  
November 26, 2008 This is to advise you that Governor Martin O'Malley has ordered the United States Flag and Maryland State Flag flown at half staff on Saturday, November 29, 2008, from sunrise to sunset. This is in memory of Army Pvt. Charles Yi Barnett of Bel Air, Maryland, who died on November 20, 2008 in Tallil, Iraq, while supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom.  
October 30, 2008 This is to advise you that Governor Martin O’Malley has ordered the United States Flag and Maryland State Flag flown at half staff on Thursday, October 30, 2008, from sunrise to sunset. This is in memory of Marine Col. Michael R. Stahlman, of Chevy Chase, Maryland, who died on October 5, 2008 in Anbar Province, Iraq.  
October 27, 2008
updated		 This is to advise you that Governor Martin O’Malley has ordered the Maryland State Flag flown at half staff until sunset on Wednesday, October 29, 2008. This is in memory of Officer Richard M. Bremer of the Frederick Police Department, who died October 22, 2008 in the line of duty.  
October 23, 2008 This is to advise you that Governor Martin O’Malley has ordered the Maryland State Flag flown at half staff immediately. This is in memory of Officer Richard M. Bremer of the Frederick Police Department, who died yesterday in the line of duty. The flag shall continue to be flown at half staff until sunset on the day of the funeral. This office will send an additional notice when the date of the funeral is released.  
October 20, 2008
updated		 This is to advise you that Governor Martin O’Malley has ordered the Maryland State Flag flown at half staff until sunset on Monday, October 20, 2008. This is in memory of Baltimore County Firefighter/Medic Brian D. Neville of Abingdon, Maryland, who died on October 16, 2008 while on duty.  
October 17, 2008 This is to advise you that Governor Martin O’Malley has ordered the Maryland State Flag flown at half staff immediately. This is in memory of Baltimore County Firefighter/Medic Brian D. Neville of Abingdon, Maryland, who died last night while on duty. The flag shall continue to be flown at half staff until sunset on the day of the funeral.  
October 5, 2008 This is to advise you that Governor Martin O’Malley has ordered the Maryland State Flag and United States Flag flown at half staff on Sunday, October 5, 2008, from sunrise to sunset. This action is taken in honor of National Fallen Firefighters Memorial Weekend, as a tribute to all firefighters who have lost their lives in the line of duty during the previous year.

On October 16, 2001 President George W. Bush approved legislation requiring the United States Flag to be lowered to half staff to memorialize fallen firefighters. Public Law 107-51 requires this action to occur annually in conjunction with observance of the National Fallen Firefighters Memorial Service.

  
September 29, 2008
updated		 This is to advise you that Governor Martin O’Malley has ordered the Maryland State Flag flown at half staff until sunset on Saturday, October 4, 2008. This is in memory of Stephen H. Bunker, MSP helicopter pilot; Trooper First Class Mickey Lippy, MSP co-pilot and a flight paramedic; and Tanya Mallard, a volunteer EMT, who were killed when a medical helicopter carrying victims of a traffic accident crashed in a suburban Washington park early Sunday after reporting bad weather.    
September 25, 2008 This is to advise you that Governor Martin O’Malley has ordered the Maryland State Flag flown at half staff on Thursday, September 25, 2008, from sunrise to sunset. This is in memory of former Baltimore City Councilman Kenneth N. Harris, Sr., who was killed on September 20, 2008 during a robbery in Baltimore, Maryland.    
September 17, 2008 This is to advise you that Governor Martin O’Malley has ordered the United States Flag and Maryland State Flags flown at half staff on Wednesday, September 17, 2008 from sunrise to sunset. This is in memory of Marine Capt. Jesse Melton, III, of Randallstown, Maryland, who died on September 9, 2008 while supporting combat operations in Parwan Province, Afghanistan.    
September 11, 2008 This is to advise you that the United States Flag and Maryland State Flag are to be flown at half staff on Thursday, September 11, 2008, from sunrise to sunset. President George W. Bush has proclaimed September 11, 2008 as Patriot Day and has called upon the states to observe this day with appropriate ceremonies and activities, as well as flying the flag at half staff.

In honor and memory of the lives lost on September 11, 2001, and to mark the seventh anniversary of the tragic day, Governor Martin O’Malley has ordered the United States Flag and Maryland State Flag to be flown at half staff on the above date.

    
August 11, 2008 This is to advise you that Governor Martin O’Malley has ordered the United States Flag and Maryland State Flag flown at half staff Monday, August 11, 2008, from sunrise to sunset. This is in memory of Army Sergeant Ryan P. Baumann, of Great Mills, Maryland, who died on August 1, 2008 in Afghanistan in support of Operation Enduring Freedom.  
July 27, 2008 This is to advise you that Governor Martin O’Malley has ordered the United States Flag and Maryland State Flag flown at half staff on Sunday, July 27, 2008, from sunrise to sunset. This is in honor of National Korean War Veterans Armistice Day, in memory of the Americans who died as a result of their service in the Korean War.  
June 10, 2008 This is to advise you that Governor Martin O’Malley has ordered the United States and Maryland State Flags flown at half staff on Thursday, July 10 2008, from sunrise to sunset. This is in memory of Army Lieutenant Colonel James J. Walton, of Rockville, Maryland, who died on June 21, 2008 in Kandahar City, Afghanistan of injuries sustained while supporting Operation Enduring Freedom.  
June 27, 2008
Updated		 This is to advise you that Governor Martin O’Malley has ordered the Maryland State Flag to remain at half staff until sunset on Thursday, July 3, 2008. This is in memory of Cpl. Richard Scott Findley, a 10-year veteran of the Prince George’s County Police Department, who was killed on June 27, 2008 while attempting to stop two suspects in a suspected stolen vehicle.  
June 11, 2008 This is to advise you that Governor Martin O’Malley has ordered the Maryland State Flag flown at half staff immediately in memory of Former Agriculture Secretary Wayne Cawley, Jr. Former Secretary Wayne Cawley, Jr., dedicated more than ten years of loyal service to the people of Maryland, and demonstrated his love of farming not only through his career, but also with his craft as a grain farmer. The flag shall continue to be flown at half staff until sunset on June 16, 2008.  
May 26, 2008 This is to advise you that Governor Martin O’Malley has ordered the United States Flag and Maryland State Flag flown at half staff from sunrise to noon on Monday, May 26, 2008. This action is in honor of Memorial Day, in memory of the brave Americans who have sacrificed their lives for the cause of freedom and security of our Nation.  
May 15, 2008 In accordance with President Bush’s proclamation, Governor Martin O’Malley has ordered that the United States Flag and the Maryland State Flag be flown at half staff immediately until sunset on Thursday, May 15, 2008 in honor of Peace Officers Memorial Day.  
April 10, 2008 This is to advise you that Governor Martin O’Malley has ordered the Maryland State Flag flown at half staff immediately. This is in memory of Gregory Anthony Bauer of Abingdon, Maryland, a facility maintenance technician with the Maryland Transportation Authority (MDTA), who was struck by a vehicle while clearing debris from I-95 on April 9, 2008. The flag shall continue to be flown at half staff until sunset on Monday, April 14, 2008.  
March 19, 2008 This is to advise you that Governor Martin O’Malley has ordered the United States and Maryland State Flags flown at half staff on Tuesday, March 25, 2008, from sunrise to sunset. This is in memory of Army Staff Sergeant Collin J. Bowen, of Nottingham, Maryland, who died on March 14, 2008 while supporting Operation Enduring Freedom.  
February 20, 2008 This is to advise you that Governor Martin O’Malley has ordered the Maryland State Flag and the U.S. Flag flown at half staff on Thursday, February 28, 2008, from sunrise to sunset. This is in memory of Army Specialist Micheal B. Matlock, Jr. of Severna Park, Maryland, who died on February 20, 2008 in Baghdad, Iraq, in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom.  
February 1, 2008 This is to advise you that Governor Martin O’Malley has ordered the Maryland State Flag flown at half staff until sunset on Wednesday, February 6, 2008. This is in memory of Captain Donald Hubbel, a firefighter with the Baltimore City Fire Department, who died in the line of duty on February 1, 2008.  
January 28, 2008
updated		 This is to advise you that Governor Martin O’Malley has ordered the Maryland State Flag continue to fly at half staff in memory of Former Senator Robert Hooper, of Harford County, Maryland until sunset on Tuesday, January 29, 2008.  
January 12, 2008 This is to advise you that Governor Martin O’Malley has ordered the Maryland State Flag flown at half staff immediately in honor of Firefighter Jarrett Dixon of Baltimore County, Maryland, who died January 12, 2008 in the line of duty. The Maryland flag is currently already at half staff honoring Senator Gwendolyn Britt and should remain so until sunset on Sunday, January 20, 2008.  
January 12, 2008
updated		 This is to advise you that Governor Martin O’Malley has ordered that the Maryland State Flag continue to fly at half staff in memory of Senator Gwendolyn Britt of Prince George’s County, Maryland until sunset on Friday, January 18, 2008. All flags should be at full staff on Saturday morning.  
January 1, 2008
UPDATED		 This is to advise you that Governor Martin O’Malley has ordered the Maryland State Flag flown at half staff immediately. This is in memory of Officer Courtney G. Brooks, a Maryland Transportation Authority police officer who was struck and killed by a hit-and-run driver shortly before midnight on New Year’s Eve. The flag will be flown at half staff until sunset on Monday, January 7, 2008.  
This action is taken under the Protocol for the Maryland State Flag. Any question on the above should be directed to the Office of the Secretary of State at 410-974-5521.

Questions regarding these matters should be directed to the Office of the Secretary of State.

General Information

[flags flying at half staff]

The Maryland flag should be flown at half-staff:

  • whenever the U.S. flag is so flown;
  • when so ordered by county and municipal government officials on all property under their jurisdiction; and
  • on Memorial Day, when the U.S. flag and Maryland flag are displayed at half-staff until noon only; then they are hoisted to the top of the staff.