On June 28 , 2015 , in the aftermath of the events of June 17 , 2015 , when a mass shooting took place at Emanuel African Methodist Episcopal Church in downtown Charleston , South Carolina , the five small flags that were arranged in a semi-circle around the large flagpole flying the 50-star United States flag at Fort Sumter were lowered so that the South Carolina flag could be flown at half staff . Those flown include ( 1 ) a 33-star United States flag , ( 2 ) a Confederate First National Flag ( Stars and Bars ) , ( 3 ) a South Carolina State Flag , ( 4 ) a Confederate Second National Flag ( Stainless Banner ) , and ( 5 ) a 35-star United States flag . This display was added to Fort Sumter National Monument in the 1970s . In August 2015 , the flagpoles were removed to create a new exhibit . The four historic national flags now fly on the lower parade ground
mass shooting
Charleston church shooting
Fort Sumter