(Our flag is currently at half-staff due to a park ranger dying while on duty in another national Park.)
Visitor: “Why is the flag at half mast?”
Me: *thinking — well half-staff, but that’s not the point* “A ranger lost his life in the line of duty.”
Visitor: “Oh, thank goodness! I thought something important happened!”
Me: “Umm… something important did happen. A fellow ranger just died.”
Visitor: *walking off waving her hand dismissively* “Oh, you know what I mean!”
Paul Hensel's Blog 