Governor honored to offer directive

Published 3:01 pm Friday, July 17, 2009

A July 15 letter to the editor gave incorrect information about Gov. Chris Gregoire’s legal authority to direct flags at state facilities to half-staff to honor a member of the military killed on active duty.

With passage of H.R. 692, the Army Specialist Joseph P. Micks Federal Flag Code Amendment Act of 2007, Title 4, Chapter 1, 7(m) of the U.S. Code now states:

“In the event of the death of a present or former official of the government of any State, territory, or possession of the United States, or the death of a member of the Armed Forces from any State, territory, or possession who dies while serving on active duty the Governor of that State, territory, or possession may proclaim that the National flag shall be flown at half-staff.”

Since the amendment became law, Gov. Gregoire has directed flags to half-staff on 21 occasions for Washington’s members of the Armed Forces who have died on active duty.

A list of the directives can be found on the governor’s Web site at www.governor.wa.gov/flag/default.asp.

Gov. Gregoire is honored to have this authority to recognize and remember those Washington residents who have given their lives in the protection of our country.

Brent Heinemann

Office of the Governor

Olympia