Half-staff

[T]he agents of the steamship lines drowned their sorrow in rum and ran the house flags to half-staff.

Marshal Joseph Pilsudski, Poland's man of power, died here tonight. . . . Flags were lowered to half staffs.

President Bush's decision to honor Pope John Paul II by ordering flags lowered to half-staff on all public buildings has reignited a debate about the separation of church and state.

[T]he flags at Ottawa fire stations were lowered to half-staff in tribute.