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Flags at White House at full, then half-staff, after McCain's death

Posted at 6:12 AM, Aug 27, 2018
and last updated 2018-08-27 21:52:40-04

Flags at the White House have veterans groups and others criticizing the White House over how it is handling the passing of Senator John McCain.

In a statement issued Monday night, President Trump said he issued a proclamation to keep flags lowered until his burial on Sunday.

The American Legion was among the groups demanding Trump issue a proclamation honoring Sen. John McCain's heroism, and order the nation's flags to be flown at half-staff.

FULL COVERAGE: Remembering Senator McCain

The nation's largest veterans' service organization urged Trump in a statement Monday to follow longtime protocol following the deaths of prominent government officials.

RELATED: White House drafted statement on John McCain's death, but never released it

The group noted that Trump issued presidential proclamations commemorating the deaths of first lady Barbara Bush and pastor Billy Graham. McCain, who died Saturday at 81, is a decorated Vietnam War hero who spent more than five years as a prisoner-of-war and served in the Senate for six terms.

Trump tweeted condolences to McCain's family, but did not mention McCain or issue any statement.

RELATED: Memorial events scheduled for Senator McCain

The American flag at the White House was lowered to half-staff on Sunday. But it flew at full staff on Monday even as flags at the Capitol, Washington Monument, and elsewhere remained at half-staff.

U.S. Flag Code states that flags be lowered "on the day of death and the following day for a Member of Congress."

After Democratic Ted Kennedy of Massachusetts died in 2009, President Barack Obama ordered flags at the White House flown at half-staff for five days.