NEW Flag-Lowering Order for Officer Craig Birkholz

This post contains information regarding flag-lowering orders issued by the President of the United States and the Governor of Wisconsin.

Under changes to the Flag Code made in 2007, National flags flown over Federal installations and facilities in Wisconsin must be lowered to half staff when the Governor of Wisconsin orders flags to half staff because of the death of a member of the Armed Forces. Read the text of the amendment to the Flag Code at: http://www.ushistory.org/betsy/more/micks.htm

The Governor also has the authority to order flags to half staff at all state-owned and operated facilities in the event of the death of present or former officials of state government. Municipal and county governments, public and private schools, private businesses, and individuals should also lower their flags to half staff under an Executive Order issued by the Governor.

Executive Order:  Mark of Respect for Police Officer Craig Birkholz of the Fond du Lac Police Department 

EXECUTIVE ORDER # 21 - U.S., Wisconsin Flags at Half-Staff as a Mark of Respect for Police Officer Craig Birkholz of the Fond du Lac Police Department 

March 20, 2011 

Details:  Governor Walker has issued an executive order to lower the flags on Monday, March 20, 2011 through Saturday, March 26, 2011 as a mark of respect for Police Officer Craig Birkholz of the Fond du Lac Police Department who lost his life in the line of duty in Fond du Lac County. The flag of the United States and the flag of the State of Wisconsin shall be flown at half-staff at all buildings, grounds and military installations of the State of Wisconsin equipped with such flags beginning at sunrise on March 20, 2011, and ending at sundown on March 26, 2011.

More information on proper display of the flag can be found in a report issued April 14, 2008, by the Congressional Research Service: "The United States Flag: Federal Law Relating to Display and Associated Questions", by Atty. John R. Luckey. http://senate.gov/reference/resources/pdf/RL30243.pdf .

Updates regarding Presidential Proclamations can be found at the White House website: http://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing_room/proclamations/.