Half-Staff Notifications
The United States of America flag and the Commonwealth of Massachusetts flag are lowered to half-staff by order of the President of the United States or by order of the Governor of Massachusetts. The St. John's Prep School flag is lowered to half-staff at the discretion of the Head of School.
2024 Half-Staff Notifications
December
Please be advised that Massachusetts Governor Maura Healey has ordered that the United States of America flag and the Commonwealth of Massachusetts flag be lowered to half-staff at all state buildings from sunrise until sunset on Tuesday, December 10, 2024, the date of interment, in honor of Private First Class, Bernard J. Calvi of North Adams, Massachusetts, who served in the United States Army Air Forces, 17 Pursuit Squadron, 24 Pursuit Group during World War II. The remains of Private First Class Bernard J. Calvi, who passed while a Prisoner of War in Cabanatuan Prison Camp in the Philippines on July 16, 1942, will be laid to rest in the Southview Cemetery in North Adams, Massachusetts, on this day.
Please be advised that in accordance with Public Law 103-308 and by proclamation of the President of the United States, Massachusetts Governor Maura Healey has ordered that the United States of America flag and the Commonwealth of Massachusetts flag be lowered to half-staff at all state buildings on Saturday, December 7, 2024, in honor of National Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day.
The flag should remain at half-staff through December 10, 2024, in honor of former State Representative Gloria Lavera Fox, who passed away on November 12, 2024.
November
Please be advised that Massachusetts Governor Maura Healey has ordered that the United States of America flag and the Commonwealth of Massachusetts flag be lowered to half-staff at all state buildings beginning immediately today, November 14, 2024, until sunset on the day of interment (Tuesday, December 10, 2024), in honor of the life and legacy of former State Representative Gloria Lavera Fox, who passed away on November 12, 2024.
October
Please be advised that Massachusetts Governor Maura Healey has ordered that the United States of America flag and the Commonwealth of Massachusetts flag be lowered to half-staff at all state buildings beginning immediately today, October 23, 2024, until sunset on the day of interment, in honor of the life and legacy of State Representative Susan Williams Gifford, who passed away on October 23, 2024.
Please be advised that Massachusetts Governor Maura Healey has ordered that the United States of America flag and the Commonwealth of Massachusetts flag be lowered to half-staff at all state buildings beginning immediately today, October 23, 2024, until sunset on the day of interment, in honor of the life and legacy of State Representative Susan Williams Gifford, who passed away on October 23, 2024.
Please be advised that Massachusetts Governor Maura Healey has ordered that the United States of America flag and the Commonwealth of Massachusetts flag be lowered to half-staff at all state buildings from sunrise until sunset on Sunday, October 20, 2024, the date of day of funeral honors, of Private Second Class Damian Marble, United States Army, of Orange, Massachusetts, who passed away on Friday, September 20, 2024.
Please be advised that Massachusetts Governor Maura Healey has ordered that the United States of America flag and the Commonwealth of Massachusetts flag be lowered to half-staff at all state buildings from sunrise until sunset on Tuesday, October 8, 2024, the date of interment, in honor of Staff Sergeant Ray Tourville, Jr., United States Marine Corps, of Sandwich, Massachusetts, who passed away on Sunday, September 15, 2024.
Please be advised that Massachusetts Governor Maura Healey has ordered the United States of America flag and Commonwealth of Massachusetts flag to be flown at half-staff today, October 7, 2024, in memory of those killed in Hamas’s attack on Israel one year ago today, October 7, 2023. This gubernatorial order applies to: 1. The main or administration building of each public institution of the Commonwealth, e.g. town and city halls; 2. Other state-owned or state-controlled buildings; and 3. All state military installations.
September
Please be advised that Massachusetts Governor Maura Healey has ordered that the United States of America flag and the Commonwealth of Massachusetts flag be lowered to half-staff at all state buildings from sunrise until sunset on Saturday, September 28, 2024, the date of interment, in honor of Massachusetts State Police Trooper Enrique Delgado-Garcia, of Worcester, Massachusetts who tragically passed away on Friday, September 13, 2024.
Please be advised that Massachusetts Governor Maura Healey has ordered that the United States of America flag and the Commonwealth of Massachusetts flag be lowered to half-staff at all state buildings from sunrise until sunset on Friday, September 27, 2024, the date of interment, in honor of Private Kwack K. Woo of Los Angeles, California, who served in the United States Army, Company E, 2nd Battalion, 318th Infantry Regiment, 80th Infantry Division during World War II. The remains of PVT Woo, who was killed in action in February, 1945 near the town of Biesdorf, Germany, will be laid to rest in the Massachusetts Veteran Memorial Cemetery, in Agawam, Massachusetts on this day.
Please be advised that Massachusetts Governor Maura Healey has ordered that the United States of America flag and the Commonwealth of Massachusetts flag be lowered to half-staff at all state buildings from sunrise until sunset on Tuesday, September 24, 2024, the date of interment in honor of Private First Class Erwin King of Clarksburg, Massachusetts, who served in the United States Marines, Company B, 1st Battalion, 7th Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division during World War II. The remains of PFC King, who was killed in action in the 1942 Allied forces assault on Guadalcanal, Solomon Islands, will be laid to rest in the Southview Cemetery in North Adams, Massachusetts on this day.
Please be advised that Massachusetts Governor Maura Healey has ordered that the United States of America flag and the Commonwealth of Massachusetts flag be lowered to half-staff at all state buildings from sunrise until sunset on Friday, September 20, 2024, in observance of National POW/MIA Recognition Day and in honor of U.S. service members who are prisoners of war or missing in action.
Please be advised that Massachusetts Governor Maura Healey, in accordance with United States Public Law 107-89, has ordered that the United States of America flag and the Commonwealth of Massachusetts flag be lowered to half-staff at all state buildings on Wednesday, September 11, 2024 in observance of Patriot Day, “in honor of the individuals who lost their lives on September 11, 2001 and the Americans who made the ultimate sacrifice in the wars that followed.” The United States of America flag and the Commonwealth of Massachusetts flag shall be flown at half-staff from sunrise until sunset.
August
August 29: Please be advised that Massachusetts Governor Maura Healey has ordered that the United States of America flag and the Commonwealth of Massachusetts flag be lowered to half-staff at all state buildings from sunrise until sunset on Thursday, August 29, 2024, the date of interment, in honor of Petty Officer Third Class Kyle Thomas Duffy, United States Navy, of Wareham, Massachusetts, who passed away on Monday, August 12, 2024.
August 24: Please be advised that Massachusetts Governor Maura Healey has ordered that the United States of America flag and the Commonwealth of Massachusetts flag be lowered to half-staff at all state buildings from sunrise until sunset on Saturday, August 24, 2024, the date of interment, in honor of Specialist Xavier M. Powell, Massachusetts Army National Guard of Pittsfield, Massachusetts, who passed away on Sunday, August 11, 2024.
June
June 25: Please be advised that Massachusetts Governor Maura Healey has ordered that the United States of America flag and the Commonwealth of Massachusetts flag be lowered to half-staff at all state buildings from sunrise until sunset on Wednesday July 3, 2024, the date of interment, in honor of Airman First Class Pierre D. Dushime, Air National Guard of Natick, Massachusetts who passed away on Tuesday June 25th, 2024.
June 29: Please be advised that Massachusetts Governor Maura Healey has ordered that the United States of America flag and the Commonwealth of Massachusetts flag be lowered to half-staff from sunrise until sunset at all state buildings on Saturday, June 29, 2024, the day of interment, in honor of United States Army Staff Sergeant Johnathon Daniel Maine, of Winchendon, MA, who passed away on Wednesday, June 12, 2024.
May
May 27: Please be advised that Massachusetts Governor Maura Healey has ordered that on Monday, May 27, 2024, in honor of Memorial Day, the United States of America flag and the Commonwealth of Massachusetts flag at all state buildings be lowered to half-staff from sunrise until noon and be displayed at full staff from noon until sunset.
May 15: Please be advised that in accordance with United States Public law 103-332, Massachusetts Governor Maura Healey has ordered that the United States flag and the Commonwealth flag be lowered to half-staff at all state buildings from sunrise until sunset on Wednesday, May 15, 2024, in honor of National Peace Officers Memorial Day.
May 5: Please be advised that in accordance with a Public Law 107-51 and a Presidential Proclamation issued on this day in honor of the National Fallen Firefighters Memorial Service in Emmitsburg, Maryland, and to pay respect to the firefighters past and present who have lost their lives in the line of duty, Massachusetts Governor Maura Healey has ordered that the United States of America flag and the Commonwealth of Massachusetts flag be lowered to half-staff at all state buildings from sunrise until sunset on Sunday, May 5, 2024.
May 3: Please be advised that in honor and remembrance of Billerica Police Officer, Sgt. Ian Taylor, who was killed in the line of duty on April 26, 2024, Massachusetts Governor Maura Healey, has ordered that the United States of America flag and the Commonwealth of Massachusetts flag shall be flown at half-staff at all state buildings from sunrise to sunset on the date of interment, Friday, May 3, 2024.
April
April 25: Please be advised that Massachusetts Governor Maura Healey has ordered that the United States of America flag and the Commonwealth of Massachusetts flag be lowered to half-staff at all state buildings from sunrise until sunset on Monday April 29, 2024, the date of interment, in honor of Corporal Manuel John Pimentel, U.S. Marine Corps, Company A, 1st Battalion, 7th Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division, (KIA, Lunga Area of Guadalcanal, Solomon Islands, September 24th, 1942) of Medford, Massachusetts. Remains of Corporal Manuel John Pimentel, who was killed during the Guadalcanal campaign WWII, we be laid to rest at the Cambridge Cemetery, in Cambridge, Massachusetts on this day.
April 1: Massachusetts Governor Maura Healey has ordered that the United States of America Flag and the Commonwealth of Massachusetts flag be lowered to half-staff at all state buildings beginning today Monday, April 1, 2024, until sunset on Saturday, April 6, 2024 the date of interment, in honor of the life and legacy of former United States Congressman from Massachusetts, William D. Delahunt, who passed away, Saturday, March 30, 2024.
February
February 26: Massachusetts Governor Maura Healey has ordered that the United States of America Flag and the Commonwealth of Massachusetts flag to be lowered to half-staff at all state buildings beginning at sunrise Tuesday, February 6, 2024 until sunset on Thursday, February 8, 2024, the date of interment, in honor of Master Sergeant Colin Delorme, United States Air Force, 39th Electronic Warfare Squadron, formerly of Fitchburg, Massachusetts, who passed away January 31, 2024.
February 23: Massachusetts Governor Maura Healey has ordered that the United States of America Flag and the Commonwealth of Massachusetts flag be lowered to half-staff at all state buildings beginning at sunrise Friday, February 23, 2024, until sunset on Friday, March 1, 2024, the date of interment, in honor of Staff Sergeant Carlos Dickey, United States Army, Tanker, 3rd Battalion, 67th Armored Regiment, formerly of Lowell, Massachusetts, who passed away on February 13, 2024.
January
January 1: Massachusetts Governor Maura Healey has ordered that the United States of America Flag and the Commonwealth of Massachusetts flag be lowered to half-staff at all state buildings from sunrise until sunset on Friday, January 5, 2024, the date of interment, in honor of Brigadier General (MA) Mark C. Glenn '88, Massachusetts Army National Guard, formerly of Reading, Massachusetts, who passed away on December 19, 2023.