Honoring the Victims of the Tragedy in Boston, Massachusetts - Historical Half-Staff Archive

Historical notice: this observance has ended. This independent FORTISVEX resource preserves a past presidential directive; it is not a government notice.

A flag tribute for Boston's victims

President Obama signed Proclamation 8958 on April 16, 2013, honoring the victims of violence in Boston the previous day. The document establishes a national expression of mourning through the United States flag. It is brief and specific about the places covered and the endpoint of the tribute.

The proclamation does not recount the attack or provide investigative conclusions. Its purpose is remembrance. The complete official text below preserves that focus, with explanatory context separated from the presidential wording.

Understanding the dates and scope

The order directs half-staff display until sunset on April 20, 2013. It names the White House, public buildings and grounds, military posts, naval stations, and federal naval vessels in the District of Columbia and throughout the United States and its territories and possessions. It also covers United States embassies, legations, consular offices, and other facilities abroad, including military facilities and naval vessels and stations, for the same period.

April 16 is the formal proclamation date used for this archive entry. April 15 identifies the tragedy being commemorated, April 19 is the Federal Register publication date, and April 20 is the stated endpoint. These dates serve different purposes and should not be substituted for one another. The text does not specify a numerical starting hour.

This was a directive for a particular tragedy and mourning period, not an annual observance. The period has ended; this page is a historical record for readers researching presidential flag notices.

Full official proclamation text

Proclamation 8958 of April 16, 2013 — Honoring the Victims of the Tragedy in Boston, Massachusetts
By the President of the United States of America
A Proclamation

As a mark of respect for the victims of the senseless acts of violence perpetrated on April 15, 2013, in Boston, Massachusetts, by the authority vested in me as President of the United States by the Constitution and the laws of the United States of America, I hereby order that the flag of the United States shall be flown at half-staff at the White House and upon all public buildings and grounds, at all military posts and naval stations, and on all naval vessels of the Federal Government in the District of Columbia and throughout the United States and its Territories and possessions until sunset, April 20, 2013. I also direct that the flag shall be flown at half-staff for the same length of time at all United States embassies, legations, consular offices, and other facilities abroad, including all military facilities and naval vessels and stations.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this sixteenth day of April, in the year of our Lord two thousand thirteen, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and thirty-seventh.

BARACK OBAMA

Official federal proclamation text from Federal Register page 23669. Page headings and line wrapping are omitted for readability; the signature is represented by the name above.

Verify the official documents

Read or download the official proclamation PDF from GovInfo · Read the Federal Register record

Browse related historical notices in the Presidential Half-Staff Archive.

Signature page from the official published proclamation

Select the published page to open the official PDF.

Preparing a remembrance display

Explore U.S. flags at FORTISVEX when choosing a flag for your location. Review each product's size, material, and attachment details for a suitable display.