Finally, We Can Lower Flags When Troops Die
A bill was sent to President Bush for his signature late last week that would order all federal agencies in a state to fly their flags at half-staff if requested by that states governor.
Representative Bart Stupak (D-Mich) wrote authored the bill as a response to “inconsistent, patchwork display of respect” for troops killed in Afghanistan and Iraq. The bill was backed in the Senate by Carl Levin, also from Michigan. Senator Levin is the Chairman of the Armed Services Committee and said that lowering the flag is “one of the most powerful ways we honor those who have made the ultimate sacrifice.”
The bill moved through the House earlier this year and was approved by the Senate last Thursday, which happened to by Flag Day. The bill will merely alter the current federal law, allowing the governor to require federal facilities to lower their flags in the instance of the death of active duty servicemen/women from that state.
This is an issue found to be painfully relevant in rural communities in which a funeral procession might pass through multiple communities, some with their flags still raised, and some showing the proper respect.
President Bush is expected to sign the bill named for Joseph Micks, a 22-year-old Army Specialist from Rapid River Michigan. Micks was killed in Iraq last year. He is one of more than 3,800 members of the United States military that have died fighting the war in Iraq and Afghanistan since March 2003 and November 2002 respectively.
Nicci
July 5th, 2007 at 6:05 pmAbout time. Granted we’ll probably have flags at half mast every day until we withdraw but it’s the LEAST we can do to recognize what those people have given for us.