Washington is a city of symbols, be they of democracy, of death, of individual achievement, or of power. The District, while serving as a vibrant home to 600,000 residents, doubles as a reflection of America’s resolve and commitment to the country’s founding principles and those who have fought for them over the last 200 years — Lincoln, Jefferson, Washington, Roosevelt, and legions of soldiers and civil rights activists that have furthered the cause of freedom, often at the most severe personal expense.

Death is most often recognized in the District in a solemn and dignified manner — the many flags that adorn the city landscape are flown at half-staff, providing a simple yet moving recognition of national loss and mourning. But in traveling through the city today, this DCist could not help but notice that flags outside Union Station and surrounding the Washington Monument, pictured above, remained at full staff. With death and destruction abounding along the Gulf Coast in Hurricane Katrina’s wake, why haven’t the flags been lowered to half-mast?

Federal law governing the display of flags allows the flying of the flag at half-staff in the wake of the death of a high government official (such as Chief Justice William Rehnquist or former President Ronald Reagan), but the president is granted substantial discretionary power to order the lowering of the flag in other instances. President George W. Bush ordered the flags be flown at half-staff in the wake of the September 11 attacks, to express mourning for the deaths caused by the tsunami that devastated parts of Southeast Asia late last year, and most recently, after Pope John Paul II’s passing.

While only symbolic, it would seem appropriate that such an order be given in the wake of Hurricane Katrina’s destruction along the Gulf Coast, which to date has left thousands dead, thousands more displaced, and caused incalculable damage to once vibrant families and communities. In such trying times symbolism can go a long way towards memorializing loss and inspiring hope, be it by the members of the U.S. Congress singing “God Bless America” (as they did after 9/11), individuals laying wreaths in front of the British and Spanish embassies after their respective losses to terrorist attacks, or the huge outpouring of financial support that followed the tsunami’s strike.

With debate raging over the efficacy of the federal response to the storm’s awesome impact, wouldn’t the country and government be well-served in officially recognizing such horrific losses?

We think so.

Update, September 5: Flags are currently flying at half-staff, but only in the wake of Chief Justice William Rehnquist’s death.