November 2, 2009
LANSING - Governor Jennifer M. Granholm today ordered United States flags throughout the state of Michigan and on Michigan waters lowered for one day Wednesday, November 4, 2009, in honor of Army Specialist Brandon K. Steffey of Sault Ste. Marie who died in Laghman province, Afghanistan, while on active duty supporting Operation Enduring Freedom. Flags should be returned to full-staff Thursday, November 5.
Spc. Steffey, age 23, died October 25 of wounds suffered when enemy forces attacked his vehicle with an improvised explosive device. He was assigned to the 178th Military Police Detachment, 89th Military Police Brigade, III Corps, Fort Hood, Texas.
Funeral services will be held 4 p.m. Wednesday, November 4, at Sault Area High School.
Spc. Steffey was serving his second tour of duty, having first served in Iraq. He became a dog handler during his tour in Afghanistan. His dog Maci was trained to find militants who build, place and detonate IEDs. Spc. Steffey saw Maci as a fellow soldier and his best friend. They were inseparable.
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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November 2, 2009
