[pfflier]

Was there a presidental directive to fly the flag at half staff for killer teddy?

Here only two flags were at half staff, many, many weren't.

[P8riot]

Apparently there was. I had to show the guard that you raise the flag to full height quickly, and then slowly lower it to the half-staff position. He thought he could get away with just raising it to half-staff.

I mentally held my nose while doing this for "the swimmer".

[rockrr]

I don’t know if an official directive was issued or not.

I would imagine that if it were a government or public flag I would be duty bound to suck it up like P8riot said and comply, but in my case it is a private pole on private property and as much as I try to conform to proper etiquette, I don’t believe the swimmer to be noteworthy enough to deviate from how I conduct business...