On Dec. 29, 2024, the longest-living American president, Jimmy Carter, passed away at the age of 100. Carter was the 39th president of the United States, a Democrat who was awarded the 2002 Nobel Peace Prize. With the American flag in front of CKHS and others around America at half-staff, the country is in grief for the passing of this beloved political figure.

“He was genuinely a good American,” CKHS American history teacher Jennifer Rumpke said. “Just truly decent, and I think especially in politics today, that is so lacking.”

Carter’s website The Carter Center states their mission was to “wage peace, fight disease, [and] build hope.” According to their accomplishments page, Carter’s organization worked to advance efforts in assisting people with mental illness, worked to reduce the Guinea worm disease by 99.99 percent, and generally increased standards for human rights across the globe. 

“There was inflation,” Rumpke said. “There was gas shortages, all of those things, the Iran hostages. But he did really try to do good as well; he worked with Israel and Egypt to broker a peace agreement. He opened up diplomatic relations with China. He was trying to improve the world, and kind of bring hope.”

American flags flying outside of government grounds, buildings, and naval facilities were ordered by President Biden to fly at half-staff for a thirty-day period. A flag order can be put in place by the governor of a state, the mayor of the District of Columbia, or the president themself, and can be ordered for the death of a government official, military official, or emergency first responder. The order can also be put in place for a national tragedy or a day of remembrance.

Some of the reasons that the flag can be at half-staff are usually a multi-day ordeal, but a thirty-day order is rare, reserved for the death of a president. This order will last from the day of Carter’s death on Dec. 29 until Jan. 28.

“It’s a symbol of mourning,” Rumpke said. “The loss of a valued great American. I think it’s a tribute to the importance and the role that [Carter] played in the United States. I think it is fitting to have them lowered in honor of Jimmy Carter.”

This does mean that the flag will be at half-staff on the day of former President Trump’s inauguration, and a further week into his presidency. Once President Trump becomes president, he would be able to reverse the order, as flag mandates are customary, but not mandatory.

“If you’re looking for an American role model, research Jimmy Carter and the life that he lived,” Rumpke said.