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Flags Ordered to be Flown at Half Staff August 18

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Flags Ordered to be Flown at Half Staff August 18

MARYLAND - 8/18/2009

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Governor Martin O'Malley has ordered the United States Flag and Maryland State Flag flown at half staff on Tuesday, August 18, from sunrise to sunset.

This is in memory of Sgt. Michael W. Heede, Jr. of Edgewood, Maryland, who died on July 13, while supporting combat operations in Helmand province, Afghanistan.

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2goodcandles Not Logged In 8/18/2009 at 9:33 AM
Flags at Half Staff
I think all flags should be flown at half Staff until all the soldiers come home.
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NotBornHere Not Logged In 8/18/2009 at 9:39 AM
Condolences
My prayers go to the family and friends of Sgt Heede. He paid the ultimate price so we can be free.

That being said, a little US Flag etiquette:

Half-staff

When the flag is displayed at half-staff, it is customary to raise it all the way up the flag pole, then lower it to the half way mark. This is also done when lowering the flag. The flag is only displayed at half-staff by presidential decree or act of Congress, the exception being Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day, when the flag can be displayed at half-staff until sundown.

Govenor O'Malley should know this.

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XOBXDOC Not Logged In 8/18/2009 at 10:14 AM
Reply to NotBornHere: nice!
I'm sure the family of this fallen soldier are comforted by your expertise in flag etiquette. You could have just stopped after the 1st sentence, but some know-it-alls just have to let everyone know how smart they are.
Dave_Klobnoc Not Logged In 8/18/2009 at 11:02 AM
Reply to NotBornHere: No Disrespect to NotBornHere
United States Title Code 4 Chapter 1 Paragraph 7 Subparagraph m
"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, and the same authority is provided to the Mayor of the District of Columbia with respect to present or former officials of the District of Columbia and members of the Armed Forces from the District of Columbia."

If you are going to speak to flag etiquitte, please make sure you are correct. Our military deserve that respect.

May Sgt Heede rest in peace and his family and friends find peace in their loss.

Semper Fidelis
David Klobnock
SSgt USMC (ret)
ddt29 Not Logged In 8/18/2009 at 11:59 AM
Condolences
My prayers got out to the family and friends of Sgt. Heede as well.

That being said, I'm going to pull up the laws that have been slightly changed from what NotBornHere previous had posted. Keep in mind I'm a Veteran, and was slightly upset when I saw the Governor with this as well. But he does have the responsibility of doing so, and here is why.

U.S. Code Title 4 Chapter 1 §7 Subsection M

("The flag, when flown at half-staff, should be first hoisted to the peak for an instant and then lowered to the half-staff position. The flag should be again raised to the peak before it is lowered for the day. On Memorial Day the flag should be displayed at half-staff until noon only, then raised to the top of the staff. By order of the President, the flag shall be flown at half-staff upon the death of principal figures of the United States Government and the Governor of a State, territory, or possession, as a mark of respect to their memory. In the event of the death of other officials or foreign dignitaries, the flag is to be displayed at half-staff according to Presidential instructions or orders, or in accordance with recognized customs or practices not inconsistent with law. 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, and the same authority is provided to the Mayor of the District of Columbia with respect to present or former officials of the District of Columbia and members of the Armed Forces from the District of Columbia. When the Governor of a State, territory, or possession, or the Mayor of the District of Columbia, issues a proclamation under the preceding sentence that the National flag be flown at half-staff in that State, territory, or possession or in the District of Columbia because of the death of a member of the Armed Forces, the National flag flown at any Federal installation or facility in the area covered by that proclamation shall be flown at half-staff consistent with that proclamation.")

This is just a part of what was in there, but if you read through this part of the US Code, you see that the Governor has the right to do this for Fallen Members of the US Armed Services that have Fallen in Combat. I'm still looking into this, but I believe the law that was passed to change to this was passed sometime in 2007 By then President Bush. If anyone is interested, feel free to look up and correct me. I was curious when I read the news spot and the blog. I currently work on a DOD Facility and we are now going to follow this as well, for we did not get the word because of falling under OPM which is Federal and not the State.
Reply to This Comment
SD1492 Not Logged In 8/18/2009 at 12:47 PM
Reply to ddt29: Just and FYI
Copy and paste to your web browser. I found this and thought that everyone would like to see it.

Just remember I am NOT a person that knows every thing, but "notbornhere" got me intrested as well as all the others and this is what I found.

Click For Link
NotBornHere Not Logged In 8/18/2009 at 12:15 PM
To Dave Klobnock & ddt29
My mistake. Thank you both for the correction.

And absolutely no disrespect was intended to anybody in the military. My prayers go out to everybody in harms way. Please return safely.
Reply to This Comment
ddt29 Not Logged In 8/18/2009 at 2:06 PM
Condolences
My prayers got out to the family and friends of Sgt. Heede as well.

That being said, I'm going to pull up the laws that have been slightly changed from what NotBornHere previous had posted. Keep in mind I'm a Veteran, and was slightly upset when I saw the Governor with this as well. But he does have the responsibility of doing so, and here is why.

U.S. Code Title 4 Chapter 1 §7 Subsection M

("The flag, when flown at half-staff, should be first hoisted to the peak for an instant and then lowered to the half-staff position. The flag should be again raised to the peak before it is lowered for the day. On Memorial Day the flag should be displayed at half-staff until noon only, then raised to the top of the staff. By order of the President, the flag shall be flown at half-staff upon the death of principal figures of the United States Government and the Governor of a State, territory, or possession, as a mark of respect to their memory. In the event of the death of other officials or foreign dignitaries, the flag is to be displayed at half-staff according to Presidential instructions or orders, or in accordance with recognized customs or practices not inconsistent with law. 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, and the same authority is provided to the Mayor of the District of Columbia with respect to present or former officials of the District of Columbia and members of the Armed Forces from the District of Columbia. When the Governor of a State, territory, or possession, or the Mayor of the District of Columbia, issues a proclamation under the preceding sentence that the National flag be flown at half-staff in that State, territory, or possession or in the District of Columbia because of the death of a member of the Armed Forces, the National flag flown at any Federal installation or facility in the area covered by that proclamation shall be flown at half-staff consistent with that proclamation.")

This is just a part of what was in there, but if you read through this part of the US Code, you see that the Governor has the right to do this for Fallen Members of the US Armed Services that have Fallen in Combat. I'm still looking into this, but I believe the law that was passed to change to this was passed sometime in 2007 By then President Bush. If anyone is interested, feel free to look up and correct me. I was curious when I read the news spot and the blog. I currently work on a DOD Facility and we are now going to follow this as well, for we did not get the word because of falling under OPM which is Federal and not the State.
Reply to This Comment

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