What is greater "Flag or the Sacrifice"

This seems to be akin to the chicken and the hen story ie the debate between the former and later. I have been pondering over this question for long and though that probably its time to rise out of my slumber like the proverbial Khumbkaran and seek some answers.
Our motherland is considered a symbol of our pride,prestige and our nationalistic sentiments. From our nursery standard we are made to memorize the song though swiltering heat or artic cold"Jhanda Uncha Rahe hamara" then why is that when a high profile Political dignitary leaves for his heavenly abode we have to draw our flag at half-mast and some sort of national mourning for a couple of days is declared
If we happen to switch on out television sets during this time we often come across the statement that "The half-mast flag is a symbol of a nation mourning the death of the individual". But are we not demeaning the sacrifice of the soul who probably throughout his entire life though of the Flag as something which was secondary to none. It is often said that the nation is saluting the departed soul... well if we consider our country as our mother i have not come across any instances in ancient or modern histroy where a mother has to bow to a son.

There could be another dimension to it which is deep rooted in our modern mental make-up which regards "Rewards and Sacrifice" as two inseperable siamese twins and our zest for a reward prevails over our lifeless body and the act of drawing the flag at half-mast is a reward for the sacrifice undertaken. The weight of our expectations is carried on till our death-bed where all we need is the ground to carry the weight of our body and not our expectations