Gov. Gregoire orders flags flown at half-staff Thursday, Feb. 2nd

For Immediate Release: January 31, 2012

OLYMPIA � Gov. Chris Gregoire has directed that flags at all Washington state agency buildings be lowered to half-staff Thursday, Feb. 2nd, in memory of U.S. Army Private First Class Neil Turner, 21, of Tacoma. Turner died earlier this month of injuries he sustained during a training accident while serving in Afghanistan.

Flags should remain at half-staff until close of business Thursday, or first thing Friday morning, Feb. 3rd.

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.