U.S. Flags at Half-Staff in Illinois Again? Here’s Why This Time.

I've not been able to find an official number of days, but it sure feels like flags have been flying at half-staff more than at full-staff over the past year.

Whether they were lowered for a U.S. head-of-state that passed away or more recently to honor the lives that were lost because of a senseless tragedy, there doesn't seem to be much time elapsing between the times when Ol' Glory is flying at half-staff.

What's the difference between half-staff and half-mast?

Basically, the difference is if the flag is flying on land or on the sea. A flag that's lowered on land is flying at "half-staff," while if you're on a ship it would be flying at "half-mast."

According to Wikipedia, there are "rare occasions" an American flag should be displayed at half-staff, and they are:

• For thirty days (or a month) after the death of a current or former president, or president-elect.

• For ten days after the death of a current vice president, current or retired chief justice, or current speaker of the House of Representatives.

• From the day of death until interment of an associate justice of the Supreme Court, a secretary of an executive or military department, a former vice president or a former Speaker of the House, the president pro tempore of the Senate,^[113] or the governor of a state, territory, or possession.

• On the day of death and the day after^[114] for a member of Congress.

• On Memorial Day until noon.

• Upon presidential proclamation, usually after the death of other notable figures or tragic events.^[115]

READ: Why is an Illinois Resident Flying their U.S. Flag Upside Down?

Why are U.S. flags in Illinois currently at half-staff but not in other states?

The Illinois Flag Display Act allows Governor J.B. Pritzker to order flags be flown at half-staff anytime an Illinois member of the "armed forces, police force, fire service and other groups covered by the Act killed in the line of duty."

Yesterday (Wednesday 4/5), Governor Pritzker announced that flags should immediately be flown at half-staff through sunset on Monday, April 10 to honor a firefighter and EMT from the Chicago Fire Department.

49-year-old Jermaine Pelt died while working to put out "an extra-alarm fire" in Chicago, according to the Chicago Sun-Times.

Fallen firefighter in Chicago honored by procession

According to NBC Chicago, the body of Jermaine Pelt was taken from the hospital to the medical examiner's office and was escorted by dozen of emergency personnel vehicles.