Letter: Flags can show respect or disrespect

On Dec. 29, the day of Jimmy Carter’s death, President Biden ordered that all American flags on federal properties be flown at half-staff until sunset on Jan. 28. Gov. Dunleavy followed suit, ordering all American and Alaska flags on public property to be flown at half-staff.

Sadly, one does not have to go far here in Anchorage to see flags flying at the top of their poles during this period of national mourning for a former president. I don’t believe that such displays are willful disrespect for the former president; it’s more likely just ignorance of flag etiquette and the proclamations of the president and governor.  Every person and business displaying an American flag should go to the governor’s flag status website and sign up for the email notifications of when flags should be displayed at half-staff.

— Steve McKeever, Anchorage

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