Half Mast

Today as we drove past a local middle school, my five-year-old asked "why is the United States of America flag low?" This is not the first time she's asked. It was first noticed several months ago when President Ford died. That event was at least easier to explain than the tragedy that led to today's half-mast flag. How are we supposed to explain to our kids things that we can't even explain to ourselves? I did my best to tell her enough to satisfy her curiosity, but not so much that she is scared. Delicate balance there, as she is naturally very curious. I wonder if in some future history class she will remember noticing the flag half-mast on this day.