American flags across Oklahoma and the United States are flying at half-staff today, Friday, May 15, in honor of Peace Officers Memorial Day, which commemorates law enforcement officers killed or injured in the line of duty.
The observance is marked each year by a presidential proclamation. For 2026, President Donald Trumpdesignated May 15as Peace Officers Memorial Day and the surrounding days as National Police Week, calling for flags to be flown at half-staff nationwide.
Flags are typically flown at half-staff from sunrise to sunset on May 15, in line with that proclamation marking Peace Officers Memorial Day, though many states and local governments follow the same timeline at their own buildings and facilities.
In Oklahoma, residents cancheck the state's official flag status pagefor updates on when flags are ordered to half-staff at government buildings.
Why are flags at half-staff today?
Flags are lowered on May 15 in observance of Peace Officers Memorial Day, a national day honoring federal, state and local law enforcement officers who have died in the line of duty.
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Established by Congress in 1962, the observance is recognized annually during National Police Week and is often marked by memorial events and tributes nationwide, according toNational Day Calendar.
How long will flags stay lowered?
Flags are flown at half-staff from sunrise to sunset on May 15, following the presidential proclamation marking Peace Officers Memorial Day. State and local governments typically follow the same timeline on their own buildings.
What's the difference between half-staff and half-mast?
The difference between half-staff and half-mast depends on where the flag is being flown. In the United States, flags on land are lowered to half-staff, while half-mast refers to flags flown on ships and at naval stations.
The observance is also marked byevents across the country, including the National Police Officers Memorial Service in Washington, D.C., held at the U.S. Capitol on May 15 as part of National Police Week.
This article originally appeared on Oklahoman:Why are flags at half-staff today? Peace Officers Memorial Day is May 15
