Gov. Gregoire orders flags flown at half-staff Monday, Nov. 9

For Immediate Release: November 5, 2009

OLYMPIA � Gov. Chris Gregoire has directed that flags at all Washington state agency buildings be lowered to half-staff Monday, Nov. 9, in memory of U.S. Army Chief Warrant Officer Michael P. Montgomery of Redmond. Montgomery was killed last week in Afghanistan when the helicopter he was in crashed.

Flags should remain at half-staff until close of business Monday, or first thing Tuesday morning, Nov. 10.

Congress amended the U.S. Flag Code to give governors the authority to lower flags when a state resident in the military is killed in the line of duty. Other government entities, citizens and businesses are encouraged to join in this recognition.