Today, Sunday, Oct 9, the stars and stripes will be lowered to half-staff across the United States. This is in honor of the National Fallen Firefighters Memorial Service, which is held each year on the first Sunday in October. For many government agencies, the flag was lowered Friday at sunset and will be raised back Monday morning. All private flag pole owners normally follow these same procedures. The governor sends out email instructions to state agencies, and often he receives insructions from the president.  

When you see the flag at half-staff and wonder why, you can quickly find out from a new link being added tonight to NWCitizen. It is a link to the flag page on Fairhaven.com. In Fairhaven - south Bellingham - is one of the tallest flag poles in the state at 100 feet. It was originally installed in 1987 by several Vietnam era Veterans. Today it is managed by the Historic Fairhaven Association in an agreement with the city.  

On the website, the flag committee posts the reasons for the half-mast of the flag each time if is lowered during the year. The Fairhaven flag committee subscribes to the governors emails and posts the reason for the half-staff flag on the page. 

Also on that flag page is a link where you can contribute to help buy the new flags needed each year.  Right now there is a need to buy a sturdy winter flag. The light nylon one there now will get shredded if left up. The association funds the flag purchases, but would welcome donations to help. Disclaimer: I am the chair of the association flag committee.