Gov. Gregoire orders flags flown at half-staff Friday, April 20th

For Immediate Release: April 18, 2012

OLYMPIA � Gov. Chris Gregoire has directed that flags at all Washington state agency buildings be lowered to half-staff Friday, April 20th, in memory of U.S. Marine Corps Lance Corporal Ramon T. Kaipat, 22, of Tacoma. Kaipat was killed last week while conducting combat operations in Afghanistan.

Flags should remain at half-staff until close of business Friday.

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.