thedrifter
06-14-07, 02:25 PM
Most governors lower flag for fallen troops
Half-Staff Policies Vary Widely Among States
By Ben Jones - USA Today
Posted : Thursday Jun 14, 2007 14:39:34 EDT
More than half of state governors lower the American flag to honor service members killed overseas.
As the USA observes Flag Day today, a 50-state check indicates that 28 governors automatically lower flags when service members from their state are killed, and 22 governors do not. Some lower flags statewide, others only at certain facilities or localities.
There is a debate over whether every service member should get the honor. “Otherwise, anytime we’re in a conflict, the flag would be at half-staff most of the time, unfortunately,” said Joyce Doody, executive director of the National Flag Foundation.
Don Bauer, a Vietnam War veteran living in Grand Chute, Wis., said he believes governors should lower the flag to half-staff.
“The flag is not just a piece of cloth,” he said. “It’s something that everyone believes in, in the service.”
Because state policies differ, equal sacrifices don’t always mean equal honors.
On June 3, an improvised explosive device in Thania, Iraq, killed four soldiers from a unit based in Fort Lewis, Wash.
U.S. flags flew at half-staff in the home states of two of the fallen soldiers, Sgt. Tyler Kritz, 21, of Eagle River, Wis., and Staff Sgt. Greg Gagarin, 38, of Los Angeles.
The two other soldiers came from states with different policies. Flags weren’t lowered in New Mexico for Sgt. James Akin, 23, of Albuquerque or in Florida for Sgt. Robert Surber, 24, of Inverness.
The reach of state flag orders varies. In California, Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger ordered only the capitol’s flag lowered for Gagarin.
In Wisconsin, Gov. Jim Doyle ordered flags to be lowered for Kritz at “all buildings, grounds and military installations of the state of Wisconsin equipped with such flags.”
Doody said the U.S. Flag Code gives governors the authority to lower flags for officials, although the code doesn’t specifically address the death of a service member.
States that don’t lower the American flag often honor fallen troops in other ways. New Mexico, for example, lowers its state flag.
According to spokeswoman Jane Jankowski, Indiana Gov. Mitch Daniels has attended funerals for all Guardsmen killed in the Middle East and has penned notes to fallen service members’ families. He also visited troops last year in Iraq and Afghanistan. Indiana, however, does not lower the flag for those from the state killed in action.
“There are a number of efforts that he has undertaken here to honor and respect those who are sacrificing for our country,” she said.
Robert Black, spokesman for Texas Gov. Rick Perry, said that state does not require the American flag to be lowered. “It has never been requested or discussed,” Black said. “Instead, the governor chooses to reach out to the family through a personal note from him.”
John Witte, a University of Wisconsin political science professor, said there can be political ramifications to lowering a flag. The action might be supported by veterans, an important constituency for governors.
“I’m certain it would be hard for governors to resist,” Witte said.
Witte also said lowering the flag on a regular basis could trivialize the honor.
“If it was World War II and you’re losing thousands of soldiers a year, you’re looking at half-mast all year,” he said.
Jon St. John of Neenah, Wis., lost his son on Jan. 27 when Jon St. John II was killed in enemy action in Iraq.
“As a family, you are going through some pretty sorrowful days,” St. John said. “To have [the governor] do that honor for you was very touching. It shows all the other veterans from different wars that somebody gives a darn.”
Ellie
Half-Staff Policies Vary Widely Among States
By Ben Jones - USA Today
Posted : Thursday Jun 14, 2007 14:39:34 EDT
More than half of state governors lower the American flag to honor service members killed overseas.
As the USA observes Flag Day today, a 50-state check indicates that 28 governors automatically lower flags when service members from their state are killed, and 22 governors do not. Some lower flags statewide, others only at certain facilities or localities.
There is a debate over whether every service member should get the honor. “Otherwise, anytime we’re in a conflict, the flag would be at half-staff most of the time, unfortunately,” said Joyce Doody, executive director of the National Flag Foundation.
Don Bauer, a Vietnam War veteran living in Grand Chute, Wis., said he believes governors should lower the flag to half-staff.
“The flag is not just a piece of cloth,” he said. “It’s something that everyone believes in, in the service.”
Because state policies differ, equal sacrifices don’t always mean equal honors.
On June 3, an improvised explosive device in Thania, Iraq, killed four soldiers from a unit based in Fort Lewis, Wash.
U.S. flags flew at half-staff in the home states of two of the fallen soldiers, Sgt. Tyler Kritz, 21, of Eagle River, Wis., and Staff Sgt. Greg Gagarin, 38, of Los Angeles.
The two other soldiers came from states with different policies. Flags weren’t lowered in New Mexico for Sgt. James Akin, 23, of Albuquerque or in Florida for Sgt. Robert Surber, 24, of Inverness.
The reach of state flag orders varies. In California, Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger ordered only the capitol’s flag lowered for Gagarin.
In Wisconsin, Gov. Jim Doyle ordered flags to be lowered for Kritz at “all buildings, grounds and military installations of the state of Wisconsin equipped with such flags.”
Doody said the U.S. Flag Code gives governors the authority to lower flags for officials, although the code doesn’t specifically address the death of a service member.
States that don’t lower the American flag often honor fallen troops in other ways. New Mexico, for example, lowers its state flag.
According to spokeswoman Jane Jankowski, Indiana Gov. Mitch Daniels has attended funerals for all Guardsmen killed in the Middle East and has penned notes to fallen service members’ families. He also visited troops last year in Iraq and Afghanistan. Indiana, however, does not lower the flag for those from the state killed in action.
“There are a number of efforts that he has undertaken here to honor and respect those who are sacrificing for our country,” she said.
Robert Black, spokesman for Texas Gov. Rick Perry, said that state does not require the American flag to be lowered. “It has never been requested or discussed,” Black said. “Instead, the governor chooses to reach out to the family through a personal note from him.”
John Witte, a University of Wisconsin political science professor, said there can be political ramifications to lowering a flag. The action might be supported by veterans, an important constituency for governors.
“I’m certain it would be hard for governors to resist,” Witte said.
Witte also said lowering the flag on a regular basis could trivialize the honor.
“If it was World War II and you’re losing thousands of soldiers a year, you’re looking at half-mast all year,” he said.
Jon St. John of Neenah, Wis., lost his son on Jan. 27 when Jon St. John II was killed in enemy action in Iraq.
“As a family, you are going through some pretty sorrowful days,” St. John said. “To have [the governor] do that honor for you was very touching. It shows all the other veterans from different wars that somebody gives a darn.”
Ellie