South Carolina will raise flags on Inauguration Day, despite mourning for Jimmy Carter, as several states join in this decision.
Columbia: South Carolina is set to raise flags to full-staff on Inauguration Day, even though the state is still in mourning for former President Jimmy Carter, who passed away recently.
According to federal flag code, flags should be at half-staff for 30 days after a former president’s death. Since Carter died on December 29, President Biden ordered flags to be lowered during this mourning period.
However, South Carolina’s Governor Henry McMaster and other officials have decided to raise the flags on January 20, which is also Martin Luther King Day. This date falls within the mourning period.
Several other governors, like Texas’s Greg Abbott, have also announced plans to raise flags on Inauguration Day, citing a federal statute that encourages displaying the U.S. flag on this occasion.
Abbott emphasized the importance of celebrating the incoming president while honoring the service of the former president. House Speaker Mike Johnson also mentioned that flags at the U.S. Capitol would fly at full-staff for the inauguration, but would return to half-staff the next day to honor Carter.
Flags across the nation were lowered to half-staff on December 30 to remember Jimmy Carter, who was known for his dedication to public service and humanitarian efforts.
In general, flags fly at half-staff to signify mourning, and this can be ordered by the president, state governors, or local officials. It’s a way to show respect for those who have served the country or in remembrance of significant events.
