American flags are flying at half-staff Friday, May 15, across California and the country 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 Trump designated May 15 as Peace Officers Memorial Day and the surrounding days as National Police Week, calling for flags to be flown at half-staff nationwide.
“On this Peace Officers Memorial Day, observed during our Nation’s time-honored Police Week, we pay tribute to the men and women of law enforcement who have devoted their lives to safeguarding our families and communities,” Trump said in his proclamation. “Our grateful country joins them in honoring the memory of the fallen officers who gave their lives protecting their fellow citizens, and we stand resolutely beside the families they left behind.”
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 to National Day Calendar.
Gov. Gavin Newsom honors California’s fallen peace officers in ceremony
In California, Gov. Gavin Newsom honored the sacrifice and service of California’s fallen law enforcement officers at an annual California Peace Officers’ Memorial Ceremony on Monday, May 4.
“The officers we honor today represent the very best of California. They ran toward danger on behalf of people they didn’t know,” Newsom said in a news release. “We recognize their sacrifice and the loved ones who carry that loss with them every single day. Their legacy is lasting — in the lives they saved, the communities they protected and the example they set for all of us.”
The ceremony featured “a ‘Walk of Honor’ for surviving family members from the west steps of the Capitol to the memorial monument for the Enrollment Ceremony, where the names of newly enrolled officers were formally added to the Memorial Monument,” according to state officials.
Those honored at this year’s ceremony included:
How long will flags stay lowered?
Flags are flown at half-staff from sunrise to sunset on May 15, in observance of the presidential proclamation marking Peace Officers Memorial Day. State and local governments typically follow the same timeline for 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 by events 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 Palm Springs Desert Sun: Why are flags at half-staff in California? Why they’ll stay lowered May 15
Reporting by Daniella Segura and Lori Comstock, USA TODAY NETWORK / Palm Springs Desert Sun
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
