Word: half-staff
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...that for the first time an absolutely first-class warship had been struck directly by a modern bomber. The damage, though bloody, did not exceed that of a six-inch shell. The Deutschland was not disabled, easily made her way to Gibraltar whose harbor she entered with flag at half-staff. British vessels lowered their flags in sympathy, the crew of the U. S. S. Kane attended a memorial service for the dead before the Deutschland steamed off for repairs in Germany...
...White House luncheon honoring Lady Lindsay, wife of the British Ambassador, was canceled, the White House Congressional reception postponed a fortnight. The affection which the Wartime Assistant Secretary of the Navy conceived for Britain's "Sailor King" was not, however, enough to cause him to half-staff the White House flag, as Roosevelt I did when the British Ambassador died in Washington in 1902. Then T. R. explained that it was not because Lord Pauncefote had been a distinguished diplomat, but because he was a "damned good fellow...
Swedish newspapers normally do not publish on New Year's Day. Last week holidaying Swedish newshawks were routed out of their homes by telephone, called scurrying back to their offices. Within two hours extras were hawked on every corner, flags were being hauled to half-staff on public buildings, and Prince Carl of Sweden, president of the Swedish Red Cross, was hurrying back from his country place to preside over an emergency meeting. Police reserves hustled around to the Italian legation to guard it from angry crowds that kept telling each other varying versions of the same story...
...plate and oil paintings alone were supposed to be worth more than the castle. One day last week the Duke and Duchess were on vacation in England and so was the Private Secretary, Commander Henderson. Belatedly Sergeant Irvine, head of the Castle guard, went up on the roof to half-staff the flag of Northern Ireland for Germany's late, great President von Hindenburg. As he fiddled with the ropes Sergeant Irvine smelt smoke. It curled in tiny wisps from the apartments of the private secretary. As he raised the alarm crackling flames burst through. Before fire engines could travel...
...Coolidge has just died of heart failure." After a stunned moment, the President pushed back his chair, laid down his napkin, strode to his office. There he hastily dispatched a special message to Congress, issued a proclamation for 30 days of public mourning. Within five minutes, down to half-staff came the White House flag. Down came the flags of Washington, of the nation...