Monday, July 02, 2007
Governor Now Authorized To Order Federal Flags To Be Flown At Half Staff To Honor Fallen Soldiers
Iowans Interested in Receiving Notice When to Fly Flags at Half Staff Should Contact Governor’s Office
(Des Moines) On Friday, June 29th, President Bush signed into law H.R. 692 which authorizes the nation’s Governors to order federal flags to be flown at half staff in honor of active duty fallen soldiers.
Specifically, the new law gives Governors (and the Mayor of the District of Columbia) the authority to proclaim that the U.S. flag shall be flown at half-staff in the event of the death of a member of the armed forces who dies while serving on active duty. H.R. 692 also requires federal government agencies in the state to comply with the Governor’s proclamation that the U.S. flag be flown at half-staff in the event of the death of a member of the Armed Forces.
This past January, after being sworn into office, Governor Chet Culver issued his first Executive Order calling for state flags to be flown at half staff throughout the state of Iowa to honor fallen Iowa soldiers. The Governor's directive applied to all U.S. and state flags under the control of the state in the event of the death of an Iowa soldier.
For Iowans interested in being informed when flags are to be lowered, please contact the Governor’s office at 515-281-0188 or email ryan.dierks@iowa.gov.