Bill OKs Lowering Flags When Troops Die
Associated Press
June 16, 2007
WASHINGTON
Legislation passed by Congress would require all federal
agencies in a state to comply with a governor's request that they
fly their flags at half-staff to honor a fallen service member.
The bill, which now goes to President Bush for his
signature, was crafted by Rep. Bart Stupak, D-Mich., who was upset
by what he said was the "inconsistent, patchwork display of
respect" in his state toward troops killed in Iraq and Afghanistan.
The House passed the bill in May and the Senate approved
it late Thursday - Flag Day - on a voice vote.
The measure would amend federal law with regard to the flying of the national
flag at half-staff to allow a governor to require that federal facilities in
the state lower their flags when a member of the armed forces from that state
dies while on active duty.
It is named for Army Specialist Joseph P. Micks, a
22-year-old from Rapid River in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan who
was killed in Iraq last year.
Stupak said there were several instances in his state
of federal facilities ignoring the governor's request to lower flags,
and this was particularly painful in rural communities when funeral
facilities pass through multiple communities, some with lowered flags,
some without.
In the Senate, the bill was backed by Armed Services
Committee Chairman Carl Levin, D-Mich., who said that flying the
flag at half-staff was "one of the most powerful ways we honor
those who have made the ultimate sacrifice."
More than 3,800 Members of the military have died as
a result of the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq.
The bill is H.R. 692
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