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Honoring Army Private First Class Leon R. Karwacki, a World War II Soldier

MADISON — Gov. Tony Evers signed Executive Order #273 ordering the flags of the United States and the state of Wisconsin to be flown at half-staff on Wed., Sept. 10, 2025, in honor of U.S. Army Private First Class Leon R. Karwacki, who lost his life in World War II at the age of 27 and whose remains have been identified and returned to Wisconsin for burial.

“Private First Class Leon R. Karwacki was a hero who selflessly answered the call to serve and gave his life defending the values and freedoms we hold most dear,” said Gov. Evers. “We are forever grateful for his service and sacrifice, and it is an honor to welcome Private First Class Karwacki back to his home state so that he may be finally laid to rest.”

From Milwaukee, Private First Class Karwacki was assigned to Company E, 2nd Battalion, 36th Armored Infantry Regiment, 3rd Armored Division, and in September 1944, his battalion advanced against enemy forces near Stolberg, Germany. On Sept. 17, 1944, Private First Class Karwacki was killed during an attack, and due to the intensity of enemy fire, his body could not be recovered. Having made the ultimate sacrifice, Private First Class Karwacki was posthumously awarded the Bronze Star, the Purple Heart, and other campaign honors recognizing his brave service. In 1945, American graves registration personnel recovered a set of unidentified remains and subsequently interred them at Henri-Chapelle American Cemetery in Belgium. In June 2024, the U.S. Department of Defense and American Battle Monuments Commission exhumed the remains and sent them to the Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency laboratory for analysis. Using dental, anthropological, and circumstantial evidence, the remains of Private First Class Karwacki were positively identified.

Private First Class Karwacki will be buried with full military honors on Wed., Sept. 10, 2025, in Milwaukee.

Executive Order #273 will be in effect from sunrise to sunset on Wed., Sept. 10, 2025, and is available here.

An online version of this release is available here.

Source: https://www.wispolitics.com/2025/gov-evers-orders-flags-to-half-staff-in-honor-of-army-private-first-class-leon-r-karwacki-who-lost-his-life-in-world-war-ii/

Honoring the life and legacy of civil rights activist Major General Joseph McNeil

Governor Roy Cooper ordered all United States and North Carolina flags at state facilities to be lowered to half-staff from sunrise to sunset on Tuesday, September 9, 2025, in honor of civil rights activist and retired U.S. Air Force Major General Joseph McNeil. McNeil was one of the Greensboro Four, a group of Black college students who staged a sit-in at a segregated Woolworth’s lunch counter in Greensboro in 1960, sparking a national movement. He also served a distinguished career in the U.S. Air Force, retiring as a Major General.

Source: https://www.doa.nc.gov/news/press-releases/2025/09/08/lowering-us-and-nc-flags-half-staff-honor-civil-rights-activist-major-general-joseph-mcneil

Sep 8 through sunset on Sep 8, 2025. Flags will be flown at half-staff in memory and respect of former Delegate John Alfred ‘Johnny’ Cox.

Source: https://www.wsls.com/news/local/2025/09/08/governor-youngkin-orders-flags-at-half-staff-to-honor-former-delegate-john-alfred-cox/

Patriot Day Memorial Flag Lowering

From sunrise Thursday, September11,2025 until sunset Thursday, September11,2025.

Mike Dunleavy, Governor of Alaska
Victims of September 11 attacks and first responders
Patriot Day Memorial Flag Lowering

I order all Alaska State Flags to be flown at half-staff on September11,2025 to honor the victims and their families, and all our first responders. I encourage all Alaskans to honor those we lost and those who defended our freedoms on this fateful day24 years ago by recommitting to live in the spirit of unity and compassion that binds us together as Americans.
Sep11th through sunset

Source: https://gov.alaska.gov/services/status-of-the-flag/

Honoring the life and legacy of former State Senator and Commissioner of Agriculture Walt Helmick

CHARLESTON, W.Va. – Governor Patrick Morrisey has ordered flags to be lowered to half staff at the Capitol Complex in Charleston and state facilities throughout the state to commemorate the life and service of Walt Helmick. Flags will be lowered beginning at Noon on September 9, 2025, and remain there until sunset on the day of internment.

“I am saddened by the passing of Walt Helmick, who spent many years of his life serving our state,” said Governor Morrisey. “Walt was a dedicated public servant whose decades of leadership – from serving his local community in Pocahontas County to his long tenure in the West Virginia State Senate, and later as our state’s Commissioner of Agriculture – left a lasting mark on West Virginia. His efforts improved the lives of many, especially those in our rural communities he cherished so deeply. I extend my condolences to his wife, Rita, and the rest of his family, along with his friends, colleagues, and loved ones.”

Walt Helmick was born in Webster Springs and received a bachelor’s degree from the West Virginia University Institute of Technology. He began his career in public service on the Pocahontas County School Board and the Pocahontas County Commission. Helmick went on to serve in the West Virginia Legislature for more than 20 years in both the House of Delegates and the Senate. He was later elected as West Virginia’s Agriculture Commissioner in 2012 and served in that position from 2013 to 2017.

Source: https://governor.wv.gov/article/governor-patrick-morrisey-orders-flags-half-staff-honor-life-walt-helmick

Sep 11th through sunset

<h2>Patriot Day Flag Lowering</h2>
Flags to be flown at half-staff from sunrise to sunset on September11,2025 to honor victims of9/11 and first responders.
Mike Dunleavy, Governor of the State of Alaska
Victims of September11 attacks, first responders, caregivers, and servicemen and women
I, Mike Dunleavy, Governor of the State of Alaska, do hereby proclaim September11,2025, as Patriot Day in Alaska and encourage all Alaskans to honor those we lost and those who defended our freedoms on this fateful day24 years ago by recommitting to live in the spirit of unity and compassion that binds us together as Americans. I order all Alaska State Flags to be flown at half-staff on September11,2025, to honor the victims and their families, and all our first responders, caregivers, and servicemen and women who protect the American people every day.
Sep11th through sunset

I, Mike Dunleavy, Governor of the State of Alaska, do hereby proclaim September 11, 2025, as Patriot Day in Alaska and encourage all Alaskans to honor those we lost and those who defended our freedoms on this fateful day 24 years ago by recommitting to live in the spirit of unity and compassion that binds us together as Americans. I order all Alaska State Flags to be flown at half-staff on September 11, 2025, to honor the victims and their families, and all our first responders, caregivers, and servicemen and women who protect the American people every day.

Source: https://gov.alaska.gov/27076-2/

Gordon orders flags at half-staff for former Superintendent of Public Instruction Lynn Simons

CHEYENNE – Gov. Mark Gordon has ordered both the U.S. and state of Wyoming flags to fly at half-staff statewide from Thursday until sundown on Saturday, Sept. 6 in honor and memory of former Wyoming Superintendent of Public Instruction Lynn Simons.

Simons served as superintendent of public instruction from 1979 until 1991. She passed away Aug. 30.

A memorial service for Simons will be held at 2 p.m. Oct. 18 at First Christian Church, 219 W. 27th St. in Cheyenne.

Kevin M. Robert – Certified Flight Paramedic

Reason: Flags Lowered for Kevin M. Robert, Flight Paramedic

Half-Staff Start Date: 2025-09-04

Half-Staff End Date: 2025-09-04

Full Details:

Governor Hochul directed that flags on all State government buildings be lowered in honor of Kevin M. Robert, a long-time flight paramedic, who passed away in the line of duty last week. Flags will be flown at half-staff on Thursday, September 4 from sunrise to sunset.

“Kevin Robert answered the call to serve his community and provided aid in a time of need to countless New Yorkers throughout his career as a paramedic,” Governor Hochul said. “Today we are sending our deepest condolences to his loved ones, his colleagues, and the entire Mechanicville community as they honor his life and legacy.”

Kevin was a Certified Flight Paramedic and had been employed for 15 years by the Air Method-Life Net of New York. He was a founder of the John Ahearn Rescue Squad in Mechanicville and was a paramedic for several ambulance services including the Clifton Park & Halfmoon Emergency Corps and Malta-Stillwater EMS. He also was a paramedic instructor at HVCC.

Source: Governor Kathy Hochul

To Mourn the passing of Gary Stubblefield – Arkansas State Senator

September 3, 2025 through sunset on September 13, 2025

Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders has ordered flags to be flown at half-staff from sunrise on September 3, 2025, until sunset on the day of his interment, as a sign of public sorrow and respect for his years of service to the people of Arkansas.

Source: Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders
https://www.brothertonbrothersfuneralhomes.com/obituary/senator-gary-stubblefield

Hunter Simoncic – Kansas City, Kansas Police Officer

Reason: Killed in the line of duty.

Half-Staff Start Date: 2025-09-03

Half-Staff End Date: 2025-09-03

Full Details:

In accordance with Executive Order #20-30, Governor Laura Kelly has directed all state flags to be flown at half-staff on Wednesday, September 3, 2025, in honor of Kansas City, Kansas Police Officer Hunter Simoncic, who was killed in the line of duty on August 26, 2025.

Source: Governor Laura Kelly