Remembrance Day | 7. Flags at half-mast

Instructions on how to half-mast Flags on various fixtures.

Canadian Heritage

November 3, 2005

To honour the memory of all Canadians who have served their country in time of war, the National Flag of Canada will be flown at half-mast on all Government of Canada buildings and establishments across Canada from sunrise to sunset on Remembrance Day, Friday, November 11, 2005.

Flags shall be flown at half-mast at/near a cenotaph or another site where remembrance services are being observed, the flag can be flown at half-mast from 11:00 a.m. (or according to the prescribed order of service) and extend until sunset. In this regard, the flag on the Peace Tower in Ottawa will fly at half-mast from the commencement of the service at the National War Memorial and remain in that position until sunset.

A. HOW TO HALF-MAST FLAGS

REFERENCE:

A-AD-200-000/AG-000 The Heritage Structure of the Canadian Armed Forces, Chapter 4, Section 2, Paragraph 29

  1. When flags are ordered to be at half-mast throughout the day, they shall first be hoisted close-up (full-mast) and then immediately lowered slowly to half-mast. At sunset they shall be hoisted close-up, then lowered. (These procedures do not apply while flags are at half-mast for the death of a Sovereign, when they are only raised to full-mast for the day on which the accession of the new Monarch is proclaimed.)

B. FLAGS AT HALF-MAST ON VARIOUS FIXTURES

ON A STANDARD FLAGPOLE

ON A PROJECTING FLAGPOLE

ON A PEAK OR GAFF THE FLAG FLIES ONE HALF WAY UP THE HALYARDS FROM THE CLEATES, REGARDLESS OF THE POSITION OF CROSSTREES, PLATFORM OR TOP WHICH MAY INTERVENE

ON A MAST WITH AN INTEVENING STRUCTURE

ON A MAST WITH CROSS-TREES, PLATFORM OR TOP

ON A POLE WHICH IS SURMOUNTING A BUIDLING

Figure 4-2-5 Half-masting of Flags

C. FLAG USAGE AT SEA / HALF-MAST

REFERENCE:

A-AD-200-000/AG-000 The Heritage Structure of the Canadian Armed Forces, Chapter 4, Section 3, Paragraph 57, and 59

  1. The Ship's Ensign and Jack shall be at half-mast in accordance with the basic protocol established in Section 2, paragraphs 23 to 33. This article contains additional protocol for flags worn at half-mast by HMC ships and CAF auxiliary vessels.
  1. In HMC ships, when the Ship`s Ensign is worn at half-mast, the Jack, if worn, shall also be at half-mast.

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