August 09, 2004
August 9, 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, August 12, in honor of Specialist Donald R. McCune II of Ypsilanti who died last week from injuries he received while on active duty in Iraq.
Spc. McCune, 20, died at a hospital in Landstuhl, Germany on Thursday, August 5, from injuries sustained when an explosive device detonated near his patrol in Balad, Iraq.
Spc. McCune was assigned to the Army National Guard’s 1st Battalion, 161st Infantry Regiment, 81st Brigade Combat Team stationed in Moses Lake, Washington. He previously served with an Army Reserve unit based in Fraser for almost two years.
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’.
