Flags across the United States will be flown at half-staff until 6 p.m. Saturday in honor of U.S. Sen. Lindsey Graham, who died over the weekend likely due to a tear in his aorta.
President Donald Trump announced the order in a July 12 social media post, stating flags will be lowered to honor Graham’s “remarkable life and achievements.”
Trump said in a social media post following the announcement of Graham’s death that he was one of the greatest people and senators Trump has ever known.
“He was always working and was a true American Patriot,” Trump said. “Lindsey will be greatly missed.”
Prominent Texas Republicans, such as Sen. Ted Cruz and Sen. John Cornyn, who recently lost a primary battle to Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, also remembered Graham as a “devoted public servant” and “great patriot.”
Graham has represented South Carolina in the Senate since 2003.
A flag flown at half-staff is lowered to the midpoint of the flagpole as a sign of mourning, according to the U.S. flag code.
Federal guidelines, established by President Dwight D. Eisenhower in 1954, detail specific mourning periods for certain officials, including 30 days at half-staff in the event of the death of a president or former president.
The flag would fly 10 days at half-staff after the death of a vice president, chief justice or retired chief justice of the U.S. Supreme Court, or the speaker of the House of Representatives. Presidents can also order the flag to be flown at half-staff to honor the death of other officials or dignitaries.
Because no flag may fly higher than the U.S. flag, Texas flags will also be flown at half-staff, according to the Office of the Texas Governor’s website. Flags are generally displayed from sunrise to sunset.