Flag-Lowering Orders

Current Flag Status

This page contains information regarding flag-lowering orders issued by the President of the United States and the Governor of Wisconsin.

Under changes to the Flag Code made in 2007, National flags flown over Federal installations and facilities in Wisconsin must be lowered to half staff when the Governor of Wisconsin orders flags to half staff because of the death of a member of the Armed Forces. Read the text of the amendment to the Flag Code at: https://www.ushistory.org/betsy/more/micks.htm

The Governor also has the authority to order flags to half staff at all state-owned and operated facilities in the event of the death of present or former officials of state government. Municipal and county governments, public and private schools, private businesses, and individuals should also lower their flags to half staff under an Executive Order issued by the Governor.

More information on proper display of the flag can be found in a report issued April 14, 2008, by the Congressional Research Service: "The United States Flag: Federal Law Relating to Display and Associated Questions", by Atty. John R. Luckey. https://www.senate.gov/reference/resources/pdf/RL30243.pdf

Updates regarding Presidential Proclamations can be found at the White House website:https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/presidential-actions/proclamations

You can subscribe to receive an e-mail message when flag-lowering orders are posted on this page by clicking here.

Current and recent US and state flag lowering proclamations follow.

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Governor Evers Executive Order 10

Date:	February 16, 2019
Details:	Governor Tony Evers has ordered the flags of the United States and the State of Wisconsin to be flown at half-staff as a mark of respect for Bryan Rodriguez, a City of Milwaukee Department of Public Works employee, who was tragically struck and killed by a vehicle while on duty on February 8, 2019. The order is effective beginning at sunrise on February 16, 2019, and ending at sunset on that date.
Executive Order:	Text of Executive Order

Presidential Proclamation - on the Death of John David Dingell, Jr.

Date:	February 9, 2019
Details:	As a mark of respect for the memory and longstanding service of former Representative John David Dingell, Jr., of Michigan — the longest-serving Member of Congress in our Nation’s history — I hereby order, by the authority vested in me by the Constitution and the laws of the United States of America, that the flag of the United States shall be flown at half-staff at the White House and upon all public buildings and grounds, at all military posts and naval stations, and on all naval vessels of the Federal Government in the District of Columbia and throughout the United States and its Territories and possessions until sunset, February 9, 2019.
Presidential Proclamation:	Text of Presidential Proclamation

Governor Evers Executive Order 8

Date:	February 7, 2019 - February 13, 2019
Details:	Governor Tony Evers has ordered the flags of the United States and the State of Wisconsin to be flown at half-staff in honor of Officer Matthew Rittner, of the Milwaukee Police Department, who died in the line of duty on Wednesday, February 6th, 2019. The order is effective immediately and ends at sunset on the date of interment.
Executive Order:	Text of Executive Order

Governor Walker Executive Order 319

Date:	January 6, 2019
Details:	Today, Governor Walker issued Executive Order #319, ordering the flags at half-staff in honor of Captain Christopher Truman of the Lake Mills Fire Department. In accordance with the Order, please ensure that the flag of the United States and the flag of the State of Wisconsin are flown at half-staff at all state facilities beginning at sunrise on Sunday, January 6, 2019, and ending at sunset on that same date.
Executive Order:	Text of Executive Order

Governor Walker Executive Order 318

Date:

January 4, 2019

Details:

Governor Scott Walker today ordered flags to half-staff on Friday, January 4, 2019, as a mark of respect for former State Senator Walter John Chilsen of Weston. Chilsen, a World War II veteran and Purple Heart recipient, passed away on Christmas morning at the age of 95.

Chilsen represented the people of the 29th Senate District for six terms from 1967 - 1990. Following his service in the Wisconsin State Senate, Chilsen served on the Weston Town Board from 1990 - 2017.

In accordance with the Order, please ensure that the flag of the United States and the flag of the State of Wisconsin are flown at half-staff at all state facilities beginning at sunrise on January 4, 2019, and ending at sunset on that date.

Executive Order:

Text of Executive Order

Flag-Lowering Orders

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