4-1-406 - Flag display protocol.

4-1-406. Flag display protocol.

(a)  Whenever the official United States flag or the official state flag is displayed, appropriate flag display protocol requires that when flown on the same pole on property owned, operated or controlled by the state of Tennessee or any political subdivision of the state, including all educational institutions, the order of placement from top to bottom shall be the official United States flag, the official state flag, and any other flags.

(b)  (1)  As used in this subsection (b), “member of the armed services” or “member” means a Tennessee citizen within a Tennessee national guard unit who is called into active military service of the United States, as defined in § 58-1-102, who is stationed outside the United States during hostilities in which military personnel are entitled to combat compensation as determined by the United States department of defense.

     (2)  If a member of the armed services dies in the line of duty, then the adjutant general's office shall notify the governor or the governor's designee.

     (3)  In any month in which one (1) or more death notifications are provided pursuant to subdivision (b)(2), the governor shall proclaim a day of mourning to honor the deceased member or members and shall order the state flag to be flown at half-staff over the state capitol during the day of mourning.

     (4)  The names of all members of the armed services for whom a day of mourning is declared pursuant to subdivision (b)(3) shall be recorded in the journal of the senate and in the journal of the house of representatives.

[Acts 2007, ch. 394, § 1; 2009, ch. 169, § 1.]