Flags to be Flown Half-Staff Tuesday, March 23, for Army Staff Sergeant Richard J. Jordan of Harrison Township

LANSING - Governor Jennifer M. Granholm today ordered United States flags throughout the state of Michigan and on Michigan waters lowered for one day Tuesday, March 23, 2010, in honor of Army Staff Sergeant Richard J. Jordan of Harrison Township who died in Mosul, Iraq, while on active duty supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom.  Flags should be returned to full-staff Wednesday, March 24.

Staff Sgt. Jordan, age 29, died March 16 of injuries sustained during a vehicle roll-over.  He was assigned to the 1st Battalion, 36th Infantry Regiment, 1st Brigade Combat Team, 1st Armored Division, Fort Bliss, Texas.

Staff Sgt. Jordan's family has requested that flags be lowered on Tuesday, March 23, the day of his memorial service at the Light Guard Armory in Detroit.  Funeral services will be held Saturday, March 27, in Ohio where Staff Sgt. Jordan will be buried near his maternal grandfather.
 
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/govin the section titled "Spotlight."

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