GRANHOLM - Flags to be Flown Half-Staff Friday, Monday for Servicemen Killed While on Active Duty in Afghanistan

September 17, 2008

LANSING - Governor Jennifer M. Granholm today ordered United States flags throughout the state of Michigan and on Michigan waters lowered in honor of two Michigan servicemen who died while on active duty in Afghanistan supporting Operation Enduring Freedom. Flags should return to full-staff on Tuesday, September 23. Flags should be lowered on:

Friday, September 19, 2008 for:

Senior Chief Petty Officer John Wayne Marcum, 34 of Flushing, who died September 12 from injuries sustained while conducting combat operations in Afghanistan September 11. Officer Marcum was temporarily forward deployed from his assignment at Naval Special Warfare Development Group, Dam Neck, Virginia.

Flags should return to full-staff on Saturday, September 20.

Monday, September 22, 2008 for:

Sgt. 1st Class Gregory A. Rodriguez, 35 of Weidman, who died September 2 from wounds suffered in Ana Kalay, Afghanistan, when his mounted patrol came under small arms fire. He was assigned to the K-9 unit of the 527th Military Police Company, 709th Military Police Battalion, 18th MP Brigade, Ansbach, Germany.

Flags should return to full-staff on Tuesday, September 23.

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 lowered to half-staff throughout the state of Michigan and on Michigan waters to honor Michigan servicemen and servicewomen killed in the line of duty. Procedures for flag lowering were detailed by Governor Granholm in Executive Order 2006-10 and included in federal law under the Army Specialist Joseph P. Micks Federal Flag Code Amendment Act of 2007 (Public Law 110-41).
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. The information will also be posted on Governor Granholm's Website at www.michigan.gov/gov in the section titled "Spotlight."

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