DeSantis orders flags to half-staff Thursday for Sen. Geraldine Thompson
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis has ordered flags to fly at half-staff on Thursday in honor of Sen. Geraldine Thompson, who died last month.
"Senator Thompson spent her career committed to public service," DeSantis said in a press release Tuesday. "She will be remembered for her dedication to improving her community."
Flags of the United States and the state of Florida are to be lowered at the State Capitol in Tallahassee and all local and state buildings, installations and grounds throughout Orange County, from sunrise to sunset on Thursday, March 13, 2025.
Civil rights leader, educator and longtime Florida Democrat legislator Geraldine Thompson, who died at 76 after complications from knee surgery, was first elected to the Florida House in 2006.
She served until 2012, was elected to the Senate and served from 2012 to 2016, and returned to the House from 2018 to 2022.
In 2022, Thompson was elected to Orange County's Senate District 15 and was re-elected last year after fending off a challenge by former Sen. Randolph Bracy.
Thompson established the Wells'Built Museum of African American History and Culture in Orlando and was a member of a task force that worked last year on selecting a site for a state Black history museum.
Thompson was 'a giant here in Florida' and 'was so much more than a dedicated public servant and visionary leader,' her family said in a statement.
'Her tireless work in education, health care, and civil rights, including her leadership to establish the Wells'Built Museum of African American History and Culture in Orlando, reflected her unwavering commitment to creating a better world for future generations. ... The world is a better place because of her.'
Among many other accomplishments, Thompson worked to champion voting rights, preserve the historic town of Eatonville, successfully challenged DeSantis' appointment of Renatha Francis to the Florida Supreme Court in 2020, and spoke out against a controversial law championed by DeSantis that restricted the way Black history can be taught in Florida schools.
Lowering the flag is a sign of respect, mourning or distress. In the U.S., lowering the flag traditionally signals that the country or a state is in mourning.
There are certain commemorative days when it is customary to lower the flag to half-staff:
Peace Officers Memorial Day (May 15, unless that day is also Armed Forces Day)
Memorial Day (last Monday in May, from sunrise to noon)
Patriot Day (Sept. 11)
National Firefighters Memorial Day (typically a Sunday during Fire Prevention Week)
Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day (Dec. 7).
The flag is also lowered for the death of principal figures of the U.S. government and the government of a state, territory or possession, and for tragic events.
Customs call for flags to be shown at half-staff from sunrise to sunset, unless the flag can be illuminated overnight.
Federal half-staff proclamations apply only to federal buildings and grounds, to U.S. naval vessels, and to United States embassies. State proclamations apply only to government buildings and holdings.
Citizens are welcome to also observe half-staff days and proclamations with their own flags but any mandate to do so would be in violation of the First Amendment.
As private citizens, you also may choose to fly your flags at half-staff to honor local political or religious leaders, honored teachers or sports coaches or a local hero. There is no authorization needed for private observations.
On ships and at naval stations ashore, flags are flown at half-mast.
On shore, flags are flown at half-staff.
The News Service of Florida contributed to this story.
This article originally appeared on Tallahassee Democrat: DeSantis orders flags flown at half-staff for Florida Democrat senator
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