United States and North Carolina flags at state facilities will be lowered to half-staff from sunrise to sunset on Saturday, Sept. 13.
Governor Josh Stein ordered the lowering of flags in honor of civil rights activist Major General Joseph McNeil, who died on Thursday, Sept. 4.
“Major General Joseph McNeil, one of the Greensboro Four, shaped civil rights history here in North Carolina and helped spark the movement that changed our country for the better,” said Governor Josh Stein in a news release. “May his memory be a blessing.”
Here’s what else we know.
Why are flags at half-staff in North Carolina?
Stein ordered flags lowered to honor Major General Joseph McNeil, who died Sept. 4.
A news release on the order explained that McNeil, who was a native of Wilmington, was one of four college students who refused to give up seats at a segregated lunch counter on Feb. 1, 1960. He reached the rank of major general during his service in the U.S. Air Force.
Services were held Sept. 8 in Hempstead, New York, where McNeil lived for several years. On Sept. 11, services will be held at NC A&T State University, McNeil’s alma mater. Funeral services will be held in Wilmington on Saturday, Sept. 13.
Major Gen. Joseph McNeil speaks at Kenan Auditorium on the campus of UNCW Feb. 7, 2010. A Wilmington native, McNeil was part of the original Greensboro Four who staged a sit-in at the lunch counter of F.W. Woolworth’s in Greensboro.
How long will flags be at half-staff?
U.S. and North Carolina flags will be lowered from sunrise to sunset on Saturday, Sept. 13.
Why do flags fly at half-staff?
Usa.gov states that the American flag flies at half-staff when the country and/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:
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The death of a government official, military member or emergency first responder.
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Memorial Day and other national days of remembrance.
Where will flags be flown at half-staff?
Stein ordered all state facilities in the state to fly flags at half-staff.
While only state facilities are ordered to lower flags, the news release encouraged individuals, businesses, schools, municipalities, counties and other government subdivisions to join in by flying flags at half-staff until sunset on Sept. 13.
Is it half-mast or half-staff?
Previous reporting from Memphis Commercial Appeal explained that flags are flown at half-mast on ships and at naval stations ashore and at half-staff elsewhere.
Iris Seaton is the trending news reporter for the Asheville Citizen Times, part of the USA TODAY Network. Reach her at iseaton@citizentimes.com.
This article originally appeared on Asheville Citizen Times: Why are flags at half-staff in North Carolina? Honoring Joseph McNeil
