Flag Status

Flag status and half-staff notifications for the Commonwealth of Massachusetts

Please be advised that Massachusetts Governor Maura Healey has ordered that the United States of America flag and the Commonwealth of Massachusetts flag be lowered to half-staff at all state buildings from sunrise until sunset on Thursday, November 5, 2026, the date of interment, in honor of Private Joseph A. Gala of Lynn, Massachusetts, who served in the United States Army, Company E, 2nd Battalion, 5307th Composite Unit (Provisional), also known as “Merrill’s Marauders,”  during World War II. The remains of Private Gala, who was reported Killed in Action on July 14, 1944, will be laid to rest at Pine Grove Cemetery in Lynn, Massachusetts.

This gubernatorial order applies to:

1. The main or administration building of each public institution of the Commonwealth, e.g. town and city halls
2. Other state-owned or state-controlled buildings
3. All state military installations
    

Information About Flag Protocol

Orders to fly flags at half-staff are issued by the Governor in accordance with Federal Law, 4 U.S.C. 7(m), and Massachusetts Law, G.L. c. 2, § 6A, and are carried out by the Superintendent.

The Bureau of the State House notifies other state-managed facilities in Massachusetts of this decision. This notification is distributed by way of email.

If you would like to be added to this list, please send a blank email (with no body text, signature, etc.) to [e-mail].

Requests for multiple addresses to be added can be sent to the State House Events Coordinator at [e-mail]. Include "Subscribe to Half-Staff Notifications" in the subject line and list each email address on a separate line in the body of the email.