October 12, 2009
October 12, 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, October 14, 2009, in honor of Army Sergeant Christopher T. Griffin of Kincheloe who died in Kamdesh, Afghanistan, while on active duty supporting Operation Enduring Freedom. Flags should be returned to full-staff Thursday, October 15.
Sgt. Griffin, age 24, died October 3 alongside seven of his comrades when enemy forces attacked their contingency outpost with small arms, rocket-propelled grenades, and indirect fires. He was assigned to the 3rd Squadron, 61st Cavalry Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, Fort Carson, Colorado. Sergeant Griffin was posthumously upgraded from Specialist to Sergeant.
Funeral services will be held October 14 at the Rudyard Area Schools gymnasium.
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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