flags half-staff – Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine ordered U.S. and Ohio flags lowered to half-staff on May 25, 2026, from 12:01 a.m. until noon statewide on all public buildings and grounds, framing the move as part of Memorial Day observance.
At 12:01 a.m. on May 25, 2026, flags across Ohio will change their position—U.S. and state flags lowered to half-staff on all public buildings and grounds throughout the state.
Gov. Mike DeWine issued the order to mark Memorial Day, directing the flags to remain at half-staff until noon on that date, according to a release from DeWine’s office.
The order points to a long-standing practice of using half-staff to signal national or state mourning. The American flag is flown at half-staff when the country or a state is in mourning. as described by USA.gov. Flags can be ordered to fly at half-staff by the president. a state governor. or the mayor of the District of Columbia.
In most cases, flying flags at half-staff is linked to a significant death—such as a government official or military member—or a national tragedy, as well as a national day of remembrance such as Patriot Day or Memorial Day.
There’s also a clear distinction in the wording. Half-staff refers to flags on land, while flags are flown at half-mast on nautical vessels such as a naval ship. The purpose is the same in both cases.
For Ohio, the schedule is specific and statewide: from 12:01 a.m. until noon on May 25, 2026, U.S. and Ohio flags will be lowered across public buildings and grounds, turning a familiar holiday ritual into a visible, shared moment of remembrance.
Ohio Mike DeWine Memorial Day flags half-staff United States flag Ohio state flag 12:01 a.m. noon mourning