By Staff
LANSING - Governor Jennifer M. Granholm today ordered that United States flags throughout the state of Michigan and on Michigan waters be lowered in honor of Michigan servicemen who lost their lives while on active duty in Iraq.
Flags will be lowered on Thursday to honor Army Master Sergeant Anthony R. Yost of Flint.
Master Sgt. Yost, 39, was killed Saturday, Nov. 19 when a vehicle-borne improvised explosive device detonated near his position during combat operations in Mosul, Iraq.
He was assigned to the 3rd Battalion, 3rd Special Forces Group, Fort Bragg, North Carolina.
On Friday flags should remain lowered to honor Army National Guard Private First Class John Wilson Dearing of Hazel Park.
Pfc. Dearing, 21, was killed on Monday, Nov. 21 when an improvised explosive device detonated near his HMMWV during combat operations in Habbaniyah, Iraq.
He was assigned to the Army National Guard's 1st Battalion, 125th Infantry Regiment, Saginaw, Michigan.
Flags should return to full-staff on Saturday.
Under Section 7 of Chapter 1 of Title 4 of the United States Code, 4 USC 7, Governor Granholm, in December 2003, issued a proclamation requiring United States flags to be lowered to half-staff throughout the state of Michigan and half-mast on Michigan waters to honor Michigan servicemen and servicewomen killed in the line of duty.
When flown at half-staff or half-mast, the United States flag should be hoisted first to the peak for an instant and then lowered to the half-staff or half-mast position.
The flag should again be raised to the peak before it is lowered for the day.
When a member of the armed services from Michigan is killed in action, the Governor will issue a press release with information about the individual(s) and the day that has been designated for flags to be lowered in his or her honor. This information will also be posted on Governor Granholm's web site at www.michigan.gov/gov in the section titled ‘Spotlight'.