Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine ordered on April 9 that U.S. and Ohio flags on all public buildings and grounds throughout Hamilton County will be flown at half-staff to honor the life of former Ohio House of Representatives member L. Helen Rankin.
Here’s what to know.
Why are flags at half-staff in Cincinnati
On April 9, DeWine ordered flags to be flown at half-staff in Hamilton County to honor L. Helen Rankin.
Who is Helen Rankin?
Rankin was the first Black woman to serve in the Ohio House of Representatives. She served 16 years in the Ohio House as a Democrat, representing districts in Cincinnati from 1978 to 1994. She died on March 22 at age 89.
She was appointed to succeed her late husband, James W. Rankin, who died of pneumonia in June 1978 while in office. She completed his term, then won the seat outright in the general election later that year.
How long will flags be at half-staff?
Flags will fly at half-staff from sunrise to sunset on the day of Rankin’s funeral, April 10.
A visitation will be held at 10 a.m., followed by a funeral service at noon, at New Vision United Methodist Church, 4400 Reading Road, Paddock Hills. She will be interred at Walnut Hills Cemetery.
Why have flags throughout Ohio been at half-staff?
Flags have remained at half-staff throughout the Buckeye State to honor three Ohio National Guard members killed in Iraq.
On March 14, DeWine ordered flags to be flown at half-staff in the state to honor the three Ohio Air National Guard members: Captain Seth Koval, Captain Curtis Angst and Technical Sergeant Tyler Simmons.
“Every mission they undertook involved risks that they were willing to take and the courage to put the lives of others above their own. They served with honor,” DeWine wrote on X. “Their sacrifice will not be forgotten.”
The flags were ordered to fly at half-staff for 30 days until sunset on the day of their funerals.
What’s the difference between half-staff and half-mast?
Flags are flown at half-mast on ships and at naval stations. On shore, flags are flown at half-staff, meaning the flagpole is attached to a building or stuck in the ground.
Why are flags flown at half-staff?
The American flag flies at half-staff when the country or a state is in mourning, according to USA.gov.
Flags can be ordered to fly at half-staff by the president, a state governor or the mayor of the District of Columbia. In most cases, flying the flag at half-staff marks a significant death, such as one of a government official or military member, a national tragedy, or a national day of remembrance, such as Memorial Day or Patriots’ Day, which occurs annually on Sept. 11 in memory of the victims who died in the 2001 attacks.
The Enquirer’s Haadiza Ogwude and Jeff Suess contributed to this report.
This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Why are flags at half-staff in Hamilton County? Here’s what we know
Reporting by Kaycee Sloan, Cincinnati Enquirer / Cincinnati Enquirer
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