Why U.S. Flags Are at Half-Staff

Anybody out and about over the weekend may have noticed that flags across the country were flown at half-staff, even though there was no holiday or day of remembrance on the calendar. As it turns out, 

Earlier this month, United States President Donald Trump and the White House issued a proclamation declaring that all American flags should be flown at half-staff in honor of Pope Francis, following his death.

"As a mark of respect for the memory of His Holiness Pope Francis, by the authority vested in me as President of the United States by the Constitution and the laws of the United States of America, I hereby order 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, on the day of interment. I also direct that the flag shall be flown at half-staff for the same length of time at all United States embassies, legations, consular offices, and other facilities abroad, including all military facilities and naval vessels and stations," Trump wrote in his proclamation.

It's worth noting that the proclamation didn't explicitly apply to flags flown on private property as the government has no authority to make such a demand, but many private entities followed the request, regardless.

Trump declared that the flags should be flown at half-staff until sunset on the day of interment, which was Saturday. So flags should be back to full mast on Monday, but it's likely that there will be a few remaining at half-staff that had not been adjusted yet.