If you’re like me when you see flags at half-staff, you wonder why.
On July 20, President Barak Obama ordered the flag of the United States lowered to half-staff until sunset on Wednesday, July 25, to honor the victims of the Aurora, CO tragedy.
Here’s the president’s official statement.
THE WHITE HOUSE
Office of the Press Secretary
HONORING THE VICTIMS OF THE TRAGEDY IN AURORA, COLORADO
BY THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
A PROCLAMATION
As a mark of respect for the victims of the senseless acts of violence perpetrated on July 20, 2012, in Aurora, Colo., by the authority vested in me as President of the United States by the Constitution and the laws of the United States of America, I hereby order that the flag of the United States shall be flown at half-staff at the White House and upon all public buildings and grounds, at all military posts and naval stations, and on all naval vessels of the Federal Government in the District of Columbia and throughout the United States and its Territories and possessions until sunset, July 25, 2012.
I also direct that the flag shall be flown at half-staff for the same length of time at all United States embassies, legations, consular offices, and other facilities abroad, including all military facilities and naval vessels and stations.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this twentieth day of July, in the year of our Lord two thousand twelve, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and thirty-seventh.
BARACK OBAMA
