February 03, 2004
February 3, 2004
Lansing -- Governor Jennifer M. Granholm today ordered that United States flags throughout the state of Michigan and on Michigan waters be lowered on Thursday February 5, 2004, in honor of Private First Class Holly J. McGeogh of Taylor who was killed while on active duty in Iraq.
Pfc. McGeogh, United States Army, was assigned to Company A, 4th Forward Support Battalion, 4th Infantry Division from Fort Hood, Texas. She was killed on Saturday, January 31, near Kirkuk when an improvised explosive device exploded on the side of the road as her convoy drove past. Pfc. McGeogh was 19 years old.
Pfc. McGeogh enlisted in the Army immediately following graduation from Truman High School in Taylor in 2002. She had served almost a year in Iraq and was preparing to return home in March.
Under Section 7 of Chapter 1 of Title 4 of the United States Code, 4 USC 7, Governor Granholm, in December, issued a proclamation requiring United States flags lowered to half-staff throughout the state of Michigan and half-mast on Michigan waters to honor Michigan servicemen and servicewomen killed in the line of duty.
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 web site at www.michigan.gov/gov in the section titled ‘Spotlight’.
