When Can I fly the New York State Flag?
You may be wondering when you, a resident of New York State, should fly the flag of your state? The laws for the proper display
of the New York State flag are similar to, and derived from, the laws governing the display of the United States flag. (Title
4, United States Code.)
Day to Day Display of New York State Flag
According to the website of the village of Clayton, New York, and Article 19 of New York State Executive Law, the basic rule
for flying the New York flag is simple: You can fly the state flag every day of the year, weather permitting, the same as
you do the flag of the United States. Inclement weather such as rain, sleet, or high winds is a reason not to fly the
flag. If the weather is bad at the normal time of flag-raising, but you expect it to get better, then you should delay raising
the flag until conditions improve.
Do not fly the flag at night unless it is illuminated. If it is illuminated, then you may fly the flag 24 hours a day.
Display of Flag on Special Occasions
Fly the state flag at full staff, except on certain specified days of the year when it should be flown at half mast. These
days are Memorial Day, Pearl Harbor Day, Peace Officer's Memorial Day on the 15th of May, and Patriot Day, which,
by Presidential decree, is celebrated every September 11th. The flag may be flown at half-mast on other days, upon
proclamation of the President of the United States or the Governor.
The other time when it is acceptable to fly the New York flag at half-mast is to honor the passing of certain officials.
Fly the flag at half-mast for
30 days after the death of a current or former president of the United States. Fly the flag at half-mast for ten days after
the death of a serving vice-president, Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, former Chief Justice, or Speaker of the House of
Representatives. In the event of the death of a former Vice President, an Associate Justice, the Secretary of an executive
or military department, or the governor of a territory, state or possession, the flag will remain at half staff from the time
of death until interment.
Fly the flag at half mast for the day of death and the day after death for a member of Congress.
Additionally, the state flag may be flown at half staff for periods of mourning that are designated either by the president
or the Governor of New York, and also to commemorate the death of someone of national or state standing, or of a serviceman,
official or other public servant who has contributed to the community.
Law pertaining to the Display of the
flag
The relevant
laws that govern the display of the flag are Title 4 US Code Flag Code in the case of the United States flag, and New York
State Executive Law, Article 19 for the state flag. Note that the Federal code only applies to the proper way to fly flags
on Federal facilities, and Article 19 only applies to the flying of flags on state property. Local governments decide
the flying of flags at half mast on their buildings. Most of them will follow the lead of the Federal and state flag codes
in deciding when and how to display the state flag.
Sources
http://villageofclayton.org/content/Generic/View/4:field=documents;/content/Documents/File/413.pdf
Title 4, United States Code
New York State Executive Law, Article 19