Why are NC flags flying at half-staff this week? What to know
AI-generated summary reviewed by our newsroom.
- Governor ordered state flags lowered March 11 to honor fallen Trooper Steven Perry.
- Perry died after a head-on wrong-way crash March 1; driver likely impaired.
- Flag-lowering authority rests with the Governor or presidential proclamation.
Flags will be flown at half-staff this week following a fatal crash that killed a state trooper while on duty.
Master Trooper Steven J. Perry was killed in a wrong-way crash on the Durham Freeway on Sunday, March 1, by a driver who authorities say was likely impaired, The News & Observer reported previously.
Gov. Josh Stein on Tuesday, March 10, ordered flags to be lowered to half-staff from sunrise to sunset on Wednesday, March 11, in honor of Perry.
“North Carolina suffered a tragedy when a state trooper was killed in the line of duty in a traffic crash,” said Gov. Josh Stein in a news release. “Master Trooper Steven Perry dedicated his career to keeping people in Durham County safe. Please join me in keeping his loved ones and the law enforcement community in our thoughts and prayers. May his memory be a blessing.”
NC Trooper killed
Perry, 30, was driving northbound on the Freeway near Anderson Street when his Dodge Charger was hit head-on by a Nissan Altima, driven by Kinston-resident Melshawn Moore. Moore, 39, was killed in the collision.
“Steven was known for his sharp wit, warm smile and the ability to lift the spirits of those around him,” according to his obituary. “Whether at work or in the community, he brought energy, positivity and purpose to every space he entered.”
A Durham native, Perry graduated from Riverside High School and North Carolina Central University. While at NCCU, Perry was an offensive lineman for the Eagles, playing in 30 games and a “key member” of the 2016 team that won the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference championship, according to the school’s website.
A visitation for Perry will be held 9-11 a.m. Wednesday at The Shepherd’s Church, 6051 Tryon Road, Cary, with a funeral service at noon. A private burial will be held after the service.
Who decides when flags are at half-staff?
Flags can be ordered lowered by the North Carolina Governor at state buildings and by a Presidential proclamation, which affects federal buildings, grounds and naval vessels.
“At no time shall an order be given that would result in the flag of the state of North Carolina being displayed in a manner inconsistent with the various policies governing the display of both the United States and North Carolina flags,” according to the flag code.
Stein previously ordered flags lowered to half-staff from sunrise Thursday, Feb. 19 through sunset Saturday, Feb. 28 in honor of Civil Rights Activist the Rev. Jesse Jackson.
In addition to somber remembrances, the flags can be lowered for some holiday observances like:
- National Firefighters Memorial Day, first Sunday in May
- Peace Officers Memorial Day, May 15
- Memorial Day, last Monday in May
- Patriot Day, Sept. 11
- Pearl Harbor Day, Dec. 7
The News & Observer’s Lexi Solomon contributed to this story.
This story was originally published March 10, 2026 at 10:01 AM.
