This is National Police Week. In honor and in memory of peace officers who have fallen in the line of duty, flags are being flown at half-staff across the nation for the week.

In Iowa, Governor Kim Reynolds has ordered all flags in the state to be lowered to half-staff through sunrise Monday, May 20th in honor of Peace Officers Memorial Day and Police Week. The governor’s order is issued in conjunction with President Donald Trump’s proclamation to lower all United States flags to half-staff.

The phrase half–mast means the same thing as half–staff. It refers to a flag flown below the top of a flagpole to indicate mourning. Half–mast, however, refers to flags on ships or naval bases.