United States and South Carolina flags at state facilities are flying at half-staff in S.C. in honor of Memorial Day.

Gov. Henry McMaster ordered the lowering of flags in observance of Memorial Day.

Why are the flags at half-staff in South Carolina?

McMaster ordered flags to be lowered to half-staff on Memorial Day to honor armed services personnel who lost their lives defending the U.S. Memorial Day is observed yearly on the last Monday in May.

How long will flags be at half-staff?

U.S. and S.C. flags will be flown at half-staff from sunrise to noon on Memorial Day, May 27.

Why do flags fly at half-staff?

Usa.gov states that the American flag flies at half-staff when the country or a state is in mourning. The president, a state governor or the mayor of the District of Columbia can order flags to fly at half-staff.

An American flag flying at half-staff generally indicates one of these three things:

1. The death of a government official, military member or emergency first responder.
2. A national tragedy.
3. Memorial Day and other national days of remembrance.

Where will flags be flown at half-staff?

McMaster ordered that flags be flown at half-staff at the S.C. State Capitol.

The governor requests that the flags over state buildings and buildings of the political subdivisions of this state similarly be flown at half-staff.

Is it half-mast or half-staff?

Previous reporting from Memphis Commercial Appeal explained that on ships and at naval stations ashore, flags are flown at half-mast. Elsewhere ashore, flags are flown at half-staff.

Iris Seaton is the trending news reporter for the Asheville Citizen Times, part of the USA TODAY Network. Reach her at iseaton@citizentimes.com.