President Joe Biden orders US flags lowered in memory of former first lady Rosalynn Carter

Lee Johnson, an employee of the town of Plains, Ga., lowers the American and Georgia state flags on the morning Monday, Nov. 20, 2023, to recognize the death of Rosalynn Carter. The former U.S. first lady died Sunday at the age of 96. She and former President Jimmy Carter were both born, married and lived most of their lives in their hometown of about 600 people. (AP Photo/Bill Barrow)

President Joe Biden has ordered that U.S. flags on federal government buildings and property will be lowered to half staff for five days in recognition of former first lady Rosalynn Carter, who died Sunday at the age of 96. Biden’s order calls for flags to fly half-staff from Saturday through sunset on Wednesday, Nov. 29, the day Carter will be buried in Plains, Georgia, the hometown she shared with former President Jimmy Carter.

The order applies to flags at the White House, all other federal buildings and grounds, and all military and naval posts, including navy vessels, in the U.S. and its territories, along with all U.S. diplomatic, military and naval outposts abroad.

Such orders are common when major federal government figures die, including first ladies. Presidential spouses, though, do not receive state funerals.