Half staff means just that. Directly in the middle of the staff. The code requests that when raising the flag that it hoisted to the top them lowered to half staff. At the end of the day, the flag should once again be hoisted all the way up and them lowered.

On Memorial Day, flags should be flown at half staff until noon and then hoisted to the top.

Half staff is officially used to honor national service people, president, VP, surpeme justice, speaker of the house. Most of these recieve this honor whether or not they die in office.

State officials should only be honored with the state flag.