Flags Lowered Nationwide to Honor Jimmy Carter, Nashville Shooting Victims

NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Flags across Tennessee and the United States were lowered to half-staff this week to honor two significant events: the death of former President Jimmy Carter and the victims of a school shooting in Nashville.

Former President Carter, who passed away at his home in Plains, Georgia, on Dec. 29 at the age of 100, was honored with a 30-day period of mourning. President Joe Biden ordered all U.S. flags to be flown at half-staff until Jan. 29. Meanwhile, Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee directed state flags to be lowered on Jan. 23 following a shooting at a Nashville high school that left multiple victims dead.

The shooting occurred just after 11 a.m. on Jan. 22, prompting an immediate response from local authorities. Gov. Lee announced the flag-lowering decision on X, formerly known as Twitter, stating, “In honor of the lives lost in today’s tragic shooting, I have directed that flags at all state buildings be flown at half-staff.”

Flags were also raised briefly across the country on Jan. 20 to celebrate the presidential inauguration. U.S. House Speaker Mike Johnson ordered flags at the U.S. Capitol to be raised to full height on Inauguration Day, temporarily lifting the 30-day mourning period for Carter. Similar directives were issued in states including Texas, Florida, and New York.

According to the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, flags are flown at half-staff on specific holidays and events, including Memorial Day and Patriot Day. Only the U.S. president, state governors, or the mayor of Washington, D.C., have the authority to order flags to be lowered.

USA Today reporter Jonathan Limehouse contributed to this report.