Unless you’ve been in a total media blackout, you know by now that former President Jimmy Carter passed away at his home on Sunday. Carter had been under hospice care for quite some time, and his family had plenty of time to say their goodbyes before sending him off to join his wife in the beyond.

When I say the nation mourned, I mean it like I seldom do. James Earl Carter was born just over 100 years ago, and they broke the mold. He may not have been the most efficacious leader the country has ever known, but everyone knew, at all times during his life, that his intentions were pure.

Carter was a humanitarian unlike any the country has ever known. Not only was he staunchly anti-war and very active in the Middle East peace process, but after he left the presidency, his legacy grew even stronger. Volunteering with his wife, Rosalynn, for Habitat for Humanity, Carter picked up a hammer in his own hand and got to work.

On his passing, Habitat released a moving statement that still doesn’t come close to capturing the impact he had on America and around the world:

Dear friends,

The passing of President Jimmy Carter is a loss felt by millions around the globe and certainly throughout the Habitat for Humanity organization. A man deeply committed to social justice and basic human rights, President Carter dedicated himself to alleviating human suffering. In addition to promoting peace and human rights through the Carter Center, President and Mrs. Carter led the Jimmy & Rosalynn Carter Work Project for Habitat for Humanity for more than 30 years. Together, they’ve worked alongside over 108,100 volunteers who have built, renovated or repaired more than 4,447 homes in 14 countries, all while raising awareness of the critical need for affordable housing. In the coming days, we hope you will join us by adding a message to our online memory book on habitat.org to recognize this extraordinary leader. We also hope you will join us and others around the globe in celebrating this selfless humanitarian and ensuring his legacy lives on through your continued support of our mission.

Please know that the 2025 Jimmy & Rosalynn Carter Work Project, taking place in Austin, Texas, on Oct. 26-31, is continuing as planned. We know President Carter wouldn’t want it any other way. Look for additional updates on the Carter Work Project page on habitat.org.

In partnership,

The Jimmy & Rosalynn Carter Work Project Team

And if that’s not enough for your children to want to grow up to be like Jimmy and his wife, you can tell them about the Nobel Peace Prize he won in 2002. You can tell them that he magnanimously pardoned every man who opposed the Vietnam War by avoiding the draft on just his second day in office.

You can tell them that when he ran for Governor of Georgia, he did so by mimicking the racist politics of the elected officials around him at the time, then giving a speech on the day of his inauguration after he won that shocked the entire state, saying “the time for racial discrimination is over.” He trolled a bunch of racists into supporting him and then put on his cape before Day One even started.

But this, my friends, despite the admirable things I’ve already listed about Jimmy Carter, might be my favorite part of his legacy, and it’s a matter of how long he held on as he was dying.

Carter already achieved the longest post-presidency of any president in American history, outdistancing second place (Hoover) by more than 12 years. But it turns out that Jimmy hung in there just long enough that according to the Department of Veterans’ Affairs, the US Flag will be flying at half staff on the day that Donald Trump is inaugurated.

That seems fitting.

One last gift from Jimmy Carter, all flags will be at half-staff on Inauguration Day pic.twitter.com/vQsl8wlrXY

— Nick Field (@nick_field90) December 29, 2024

That will put Trump in a sticky predicament. Will he follow the protocol that’s been in place since Dwight Eisenhower signed a proclamation almost 71 years ago declaring when the flag should be at half staff? Every president who has died since then has had this honor.

Or will his ego get in the way, like it usually does?

We really don’t have to look back far to find an answer for what will be in Trump’s heart. He can’t stand anything not being about him, and he definitely can’t stand someone being honored over him. That’s why when John McCain died in 2018, the flag over the White House went right back up the pole immediately after midnight on the Sunday morning following his death on a Saturday. Less than 24 hours is how long he gave John McCain, until the outcry got big enough and he lowered the flag again.

Another perfect opportunity for Trump to prove himself. Hopefully he’ll be a bigger man this time, but I have a feeling he’s going to see inauguration day as a bride might see their wedding day.