Why Are Flags at Half Staff Today South Carolina?

There are a few reasons why flags are at half staff today in South Carolina. The first reason is to honor the victims of the Charleston church shooting. This tragic event happened on June 17th, 2015, when a gunman opened fire at the Emanuel African Methodist Episcopal Church in downtown Charleston, killing nine people. This senseless act of violence shocked and saddened people all over the world, and the flag lowering is one way to show support for the families and friends of the victims.

Another reason why flags are at half staff today is to honor the life of former South Carolina senator and governor Fritz Hollings. Hollings served in the Senate for 38 years and was a respected leader in both the Democratic Party and the state of South Carolina. He passed away on April 6th, 2019, at the age of 97.Flags are also at half-staff in remembrance of Pearl Harbor Day, which is December 7th. On this day in 1941, Japanese forces attacked the U.S. naval base at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, killing more than 2,000 people. This act of war led the United States to enter World War II.

In South Carolina, flags are also at half-staff on the anniversary of the September 11th terrorist attacks. On this date in 2001, nearly 3,000 people were killed when terrorist hijacked planes and crashed them into the World Trade Center in New York City, the Pentagon in Washington, D.C., and a field in Pennsylvania.

All of these reasons are why flags are at half-staff today in South Carolina. By lowering the flags, we honor the memory of those who have lost their lives in tragic events and show our support for their loved ones.

In the state of South Carolina, the American flag is flown at half-staff on all state buildings and grounds in the event of the death of a current or former statewide elected official, a member of the SC General Assembly, a justice of the SC Supreme Court, or a judge of the SC Court of Appeals. The flags are also lowered to half-staff on Memorial Day (May 30th) and the day of the funeral for a disabled veteran of any war.

If flags are not flown at half-staff, the consequences can be both symbolic and practical.

Symbolically, not flying flags at half-staff is a sign of disrespect for the country, its leaders, and its values. It is a way of saying that whatever has happened is not important enough to warrant a show of national mourning. This can be interpreted as a sign of indifference or even hostility.

Practically, not flying flags at half-staff can lead to confusion and misunderstandings. People may not know that a national figure has died or that there has been a national tragedy. This can lead to a lack of respect and reverence for those who have died or been affected.

In some cases, not flying flags at half-staff can also be a safety hazard. If flags are not lowered to half-staff after a tragedy, people may not be aware of the danger and could continue to fly the flags, potentially causing further injury or death.

The people of South Carolina generally feel respectful and saddened when the flags are flown at half staff. This is usually in response to the death of a national figure or dignitary, or to commemorate a tragic event. There is a sense of unity among the people of the state when the flags are lowered, as they are all grieving together.