Gov. Gregoire orders flags flown at half-staff Tuesday, Jan. 18th

For Immediate Release: January 13, 2011

OLYMPIA � Gov. Chris Gregoire has directed that flags at all Washington state agency buildings be lowered to half-staff Tuesday, Jan 18th, in memory of U. S. Army Private First Class Robert J. Near, 21, of Granger. Near died last week in support of Operation Enduring Freedom in Kandahar Province, Afghanistan.

Flags should remain at half-staff until close of business Tuesday, or first thing Wednesday morning, Jan. 19th.

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.