Flag status todayNorth Carolina

United States and North Carolina flags at state facilities are flying at half-staff in NC as of today, Sept. 9, to honor the life of civil rights leader and member of the NC House of Representatives Kelly Alexander, Jr.

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Usa.gov states that the American flag flies at half-staff when the country or a state is in mourning. The president, a state governor or the mayor of the District of Columbia can order flags to fly at half-staff.

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The Heraldic Branch of the Quartermaster Corps was given the responsibility of designing the new 49 and 50 star U.S. flags. From 1957 to 1958 the Heraldic Branch analyzed over 1,900 proposed designs submitted by the public, and prepared suggested designs for consideration by President Eisenhower.

Alexander had represented Mecklenburg County's 107th District since 2009 and served as president of the NC NAACP and on the national NAACP board.

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"I was saddened to hear of the passing of longtime public servant, civil rights advocate and North Carolina representative Kelly Alexander Jr. I’m grateful for his years of service to our state, and my thoughts and prayers are with his loved ones during this difficult time."

For the first time since 1912, the United States flew a new flag, one with 49-stars. Unfurled on Independence Day, 4 July 1959, this flag signified the admission of Alaska as a state. The 49-star flag was used for only a year, since on 4 July 1960 a 50-star flag was adopted with the admission of Hawaii.

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From all of these suggestions and from a study of the history and traditions of the flag, it finally was decided to recommend arrangement of the 49 stars in seven staggered rows. The Philadelphia Quartermaster Depot made several prototype flags. On 3 January 1959, Presidential Executive Order 10798 set forth the design of the new flag.

Previous reporting from Memphis Commercial Appeal explained that flags are flown at half-mast on ships and at naval stations ashore and at half-staff elsewhere.

Iris Seaton is the trending news reporter for the Asheville Citizen Times, part of the USA TODAY Network. Reach her at iseaton@citizentimes.com.

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While only state facilities are ordered to lower flags, the news release encouraged individuals, businesses, schools, municipalities, counties and other government subdivisions to join in by flying flags at half-staff until sunset on Sept. 10.