Flag etiquette

Congress recently amended the U.S. Flag Code to give state governors the authority to lower flags whenever a resident of their state is killed in the line of duty. Since this amendment, our Governor has ordered flags lowered at all state agencies (including public schools) to honor: Army Staff Sergeant Chad A. Caldwell of Spokane (May 7), Army Specialist Durrell L. Bennett of Spanaway (April 3); Army Sergeant Phillip R. Anderson of Everett (March 20); and Army Sergeant James E. Craig from Spokane (February 8), all of whom were killed in Iraq; and Army Reserve Specialist Joseph M. Cerfus of Marysville May 13), who was killed in a training exercise in Canada.

We have also recently lowered our flags to honor the passing of former Washington Supreme Court Justices Keith Callow (April 16) and Robert Brachtenbach (May 8). Hopefully this gives you a sense of how and why our flag flies at half staff, and the next time you see this significant flag placement you can take a moment to remember all of the people who have done great deeds and sacrificed for our state and country.