July 21, 2004
July 21, 2004
LANSING – Governor Jennifer M. Granholm today ordered that United States flags throughout the state of Michigan and on Michigan waters be lowered for one day on Thursday, July 22, in honor of Specialist Craig Stuart Frank of Lincoln Park, and for one day on Friday, July 23, in honor of Sergeant 1st Class David A. Hartman of Akron. Both servicemen were killed on Saturday, July 17, while on active duty in Iraq.
Spc. Frank, 24, had joined Pontiac’s 1776th Military Police Company in 2001, but had been sent to Iraq with the Army National Guard’s 1775th Military Police Company out of Pontiac. He was killed near Baghdad when he was hit by a rocket-propelled grenade as he and fellow soldiers were guarding a convoy. His tour of duty was scheduled to officially end August 11, just five days after his 25th birthday. Spc. Frank is survived by his parents, Linda and Timothy, of Lincoln Park, and an older brother, Tim.
Sgt. Hartman, 41, a driver of military vehicles with the U.S. Army Reserve 401st Transportation Company out of Battle Creek, was killed in Bayji, Iraq, when the vehicle he was driving was hit by an improvised explosive device. He had also served in the first Gulf War and had been a member of the U.S. Army Reserve for 21 years.
Sgt. Hartman is survived by his wife Robbin, daughter Heather, and son Benjamin. He was a Fairgrove native and graduated from Akron-Fairgrove High School. He is also survived by a brother, Bill, of Arkansas.
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 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’.
