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Gov. Gregoire orders flags flown at half-staff Tuesday, Dec. 1

For Immediate Release: November 25, 2009

OLYMPIA � Gov. Chris Gregoire has directed that flags at all Washington state agency buildings be lowered to half-staff Tuesday, Dec. 1, in memory of U.S. Army Staff Sergeant John J. Cleaver of Marysville. Cleaver was killed last week in Afghanistan when a suicide bomber attacked his unit.

Flags should remain at half-staff until close of business Tuesday, or first thing Wednesday morning, Dec. 2.

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.