Honoring Melody McCray‑Miller
Governor Kelly Directs Flags be Flown at Half-Staff in Honor of Former Representative Melody McCray-Miller
TOPEKA — Governor Laura Kelly, in accordance with Executive Order #20-30, today ordered flags throughout Sedgwick County be flown at half-staff from sunup to sundown on Saturday, March 21, 2026, in honor of former Kansas State Representative Melody McCray-Miller.
“Melody McCray-Miller was revered by the Wichita community and dedicated her life to uplifting others as a teacher, professor, state representative, and county commissioner,” Governor Laura Kelly said. “My sincere condolences go out to her loved ones and the community during this difficult time.”
To receive email alerts when the governor orders flags to half-staff, visit: https://www.governor.ks.gov/newsroom/kansas-flag-honors.
Source: https://content.govdelivery.com/accounts/KSOG/bulletins/40ebf41
Honoring Deputy Fire Marshal Shawn Johnson
Governor Tim Walz today ordered all United States and Minnesota flags to fly at half‑staff at all state buildings in the State of Minnesota, from sunrise on Wednesday, March 18, to sunset on Thursday, March 19, in honor and remembrance of Deputy Fire Marshal Shawn Johnson of the Minnetonka Fire Department, who passed away on March 5, 2026, after a two‑year battle with cancer.
“Deputy Fire Marshal Shawn Johnson dedicated his life to protecting others and strengthening the fire service across Minnesota,” said Governor Walz. “Through two decades of service, he mentored firefighters, safeguarded communities, and built lasting relationships grounded in trust and professionalism. I extend my deepest condolences to his family, the Minnetonka Fire Department, and the many colleagues and friends whose lives he touched.”
Johnson joined the Minnetonka Fire Department in March 2006 as a Paid‑on‑Call Firefighter. During his time with the department, he served as a lieutenant and training captain before joining the department full‑time in 2016 as a fire inspector in the Fire and Life Safety Division. In 2023, he was promoted to Deputy Fire Marshal.
In addition to his service in Minnetonka, Johnson supported firefighters statewide as a testing evaluator with the Minnesota Fire Service Certification Board. A nationally certified Fire Investigator, he served as Vice President of the Minnesota Chapter of the International Association of Arson Investigators and was recognized as Minnesota Fire Investigator of the Year in 2020. He also served for more than a decade with the Hennepin County Fire Investigation Team in several leadership roles.
Individuals, businesses, and other organizations are encouraged to join in lowering their flags to honor Deputy Fire Marshal Johnson’s life and legacy. Flags are currently lowered in honor of Sergeant First Class Nicole M. Amor and will remain at half‑staff until sunset on the day of her interment.
The Governor’s proclamation can be found here.
Flags at Half‑Staff In keeping with appropriate flag etiquette and U.S. Code, Minnesota Governor Tim Walz may order the state flag to be flown at half‑staff under very limited circumstances. He may also order the national flag to be flown at half‑staff on state property only. A state flag on state property is required by law to be flown at half‑staff if the national flag is flown at half‑staff.
Source: https://mn.gov/governor/assets/03.18.2026%20Shawn%20Johnson_tcm1055-732716.pdf
Honoring Lieutenant Colonel Brandon Shah
Governor’s Flag Order in Memory and Respect of Lt. Col. Brandon Shah
In accordance with the authority vested in me as Governor, I hereby order that the flags of the United States of America and the Commonwealth of Virginia be flown at half‑staff on all state and local buildings and grounds in the Commonwealth of Virginia in memory and respect of Lieutenant Colonel Brandon Shah.
We honor his decades of devoted and selfless service to his community, the Commonwealth of Virginia, and the United States of America.
I hereby order that the flags shall be lowered at sunrise on Saturday, March 14, 2026, and remain at half‑staff until sunset.
Ordered on this, the 13th Day of March, 2026.
Sincerely, Abigail D. Spanberger, Governor
Source: Email from: Virginia Office of the Governor on 2026-03-13T20:40:57.000Z
Honoring Corporal Marvin Silvester Patton
Governor’s Flag Order in Memory and Respect of Corporal Marvin Silvester Patton
In accordance with the authority vested in me as Governor, I hereby order that the flags of the United States of America and the Commonwealth of Virginia be flown at half‑staff on all state and local buildings and grounds in the Commonwealth of Virginia in memory and respect of United States Army Corporal Marvin Silvester Patton.
More than 75 years after he gave his life in service to our country during the Korean War, Corporal Patton is finally home to rest in the place of his birth. We honor his brave service and recognize the enduring strength and courage of his family.
I hereby order that the flags shall be lowered at sunrise on Friday, March 13, 2026, and remain at half‑staff until sunset.
Ordered on this, the 12th Day of March, 2026.
Sincerely, Abigail D. Spanberger, Governor
Source: Email from: Virginia Office of the Governor on 2026-03-12T17:50:45.000Z
Honoring Shift Commander Jackson Warren
Governor Mike Kehoe ordered U.S. and Missouri flags be flown at half-staff at government buildings in the independent City of St. Louis, the Fire Fighters Memorial of Missouri in Kingdom City, and firehouses statewide on Thursday, March 12, 2026, from sunrise to sunset in honor of Butler County Fire Protection District Shift Commander Jackson Warren.
You can access the proclamation here [ https://content.govdelivery.com/attachments/MOGOV/2026/03/11/file_attachments/3580895/March%202026%20Firefighter%20LODD%20-%20Shift%20Commander%20Warren%20%281%29.pdf ].
State government departments are responsible for distributing this information throughout your department for compliance with this order.
Sincerely, OA FMDC
Honoring Melvin A. Steinberg
Flag Status Alert: Maryland Flag will be at Half-Staff. This is to advise that Governor Wes Moore ordered the Maryland Flag lowered to half-staff from sunrise to sunset, tomorrow, Thursday, March 12, 2026. This is the day of interment for former Lieutenant Governor and State Senator Melvin A. Steinberg, who passed away on Tuesday, March 10, 2026. Melvin A. Steinberg was a member of the State Senate from 1967 to 1987 and the Lt. Governor from 1987 to 1995.
Source: http://sos.maryland.gov/Pages/Services/PastFlagStatus.aspx
Honoring Sergeant Benjamin N. Pennington
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Thursday, March 19, 2026
Eric Maruyama | Eric.maruyama@state.co.us | (720) 916-2128
Governor Polis Orders Flags to Fly Half-Staff in Honor of Staff Sergeant Benjamin Pennington
DENVER – Today, Governor Polis ordered flags to fly at half-staff across the state from sunrise Friday, March 20, 2026 until sunset Saturday March 21, 2026, in honor of Staff Sgt. Benjamin Pennington who was killed during Operation Epic Fury. Sergeant Benjamin N. Pennington was assigned to the 1st Space Battalion, 1st Space Brigade in Fort Carson, Colorado.
On Friday March 20th, Sergeant Pennington will be honored with a public procession in Fort Knox, Kentucky, and his memorial service is being held on Saturday March 21st.
“Colorado joins Staff Sergeant Pennington’s friends, family, and loved ones in honoring his life and service. We owe our freedom to those who bravely serve our nation in uniform, and today I mourn Staff Sergeant Pennington’s death, and express my profound thanks for his service,” said Colorado Governor Jared Polis.
Governor Polis announced flags would be lowered when he heard news of Staff Sgt. Pennington’s death to honor his service and bravery.
March 8, 2026
DENVER – Today Governor Polis ordered flags to half staff in honor of Sergeant Benjamin N. Pennington who died on March 8, 2026 during Operation Epic Fury. Sergeant Benjamin N. Pennington was assigned to the 1st Space Battalion, 1st Space Brigade in Fort Carson, Colorado. Flags are ordered to fly at half staff on the day of Sergeant Pennington’s memorial, which has not yet been announced.
“Our hearts are with the family and friends of Sergeant Pennington. The brave members of our military and armed services who put on the uniform in service to our state and country, are our neighbors, friends, and community members. Colorado honors Sergeant Pennington’s service and bravery,” said Governor Polis.
Flags Lowered for Colleen Hanabusa
HONOLULU — Governor Josh Green has ordered that the United States flag and the Hawaiʻi state flag be flown at half-staff at the Hawaiʻi State Capitol, all state offices and agencies, and all Hawaiʻi National Guard facilities in honor of former U.S. Representative and Hawaiʻi Senate President Colleen Hanabusa, who passed away on March 5, 2026. Flags shall be lowered to half staff immediately, until sunrise on Monday, March 9, 2026. Born and raised in Waiʻanae, Colleen Wakako Hanabusa was a proud daughter of the Leeward Coast, whose life was dedicated to public service and advocacy for the people of Hawaiʻi. A graduate of the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa, she earned her bachelor’s and master’s degrees before receiving her law degree from the William S. Richardson School of Law. She went on to build a respected career as a labor attorney before entering public office. Hanabusa served the people of the Waiʻanae Coast and Leeward Oʻahu as a member of the Hawaiʻi State Senate from 1999 to 2010, where she rose to become Senate Majority Leader and later the first woman to serve as President of the Hawaiʻi State Senate. She later represented Hawaiʻi’s First Congressional District in the United States House of Representatives from 2011 to 2015 and again from 2016 to 2019. Throughout her career, she was widely recognized as a fierce advocate for Hawaiʻi’s working families, Native Hawaiian communities and the people of the Pacific. After her time in Congress, Hanabusa continued her service to the state, including leadership roles with the Honolulu Authority for Rapid Transportation board and ongoing work in the legal community. “Jaime and I extend our deepest aloha and sympathy to the Hanabusa ʻohana and to all who loved Colleen,” said Governor Green. “Colleen Hanabusa dedicated her life to serving the people of Hawaiʻi — from the Waiʻanae Coast she proudly called home, to the halls of the Hawaiʻi State Capitol and the United States Congress. She broke barriers as the first woman to serve as President of the Hawaiʻi State Senate and spent decades advocating for her community with strength, determination and heart. Her legacy of leadership and public service will continue to inspire generations to come.”
Source: https://governor.hawaii.gov/newsroom/office-of-the-governor-flag-order-flags-lowered-to-half-staff-for-colleen-hanabusa/
Honoring Sergeant First Class Nicole M. Amor
Flags to Remain at Half-Staff Through Friday, March 20
Governor Tim Walz has directed all United States and Minnesota flags at state buildings in Minnesota to remain at half-staff until sunset on Friday, March 20, the day of interment for Sergeant First Class Nicole Amor.
Governor Tim Walz today ordered all United States and Minnesota flags to fly at half-staff at all state buildings in the State of Minnesota immediately and until sunset on the day of interment, in honor and remembrance of Sergeant First Class Nicole M. Amor of White Bear Lake, who was killed on March 1, 2026, in Port Shuaiba, Kuwait.
“Sergeant First Class Amor answered the call to serve and gave her life in service to our nation. She wore our nation’s uniform with courage and selflessness, demonstrating dedication and honor throughout her life and career,” said Governor Walz. “Her life was marked by service to others, and her memory will be treasured by all who were fortunate to know her. With deep gratitude, Minnesota recognizes Sergeant First Class Amor’s unwavering dedication and bravery, and I extend my deepest condolences to her loved ones.”
Sergeant First Class Amor was assigned to the 103rd Sustainment Command (Expeditionary) and was serving overseas in support of U.S. military operations when the strike occurred. She was one of six American service members killed in the incident, which remains under investigation by the Department of Defense.
Sergeant First Class Amor enlisted in the Minnesota National Guard in 2005 before transferring to the Army Reserve in 2006. She previously deployed to Kuwait and Iraq in 2019 and served for more than 20 years with commitment and distinction in logistics operations supporting fellow service members.
Individuals, businesses, and other organizations are encouraged to join in lowering their flags to honor Sergeant First Class Amor’s life and legacy. The Governor’s proclamation can be found here.
Source: Email from: Office of Governor Tim Walz on 2026-03-05T21:23:40.000Z
Honoring Legendary Coach Lou Holtz
Gov. Mike Braun Orders Flags Lowered to Half-Staff in Honor of Former Notre Dame Football Coach Lou Holtz
INDIANAPOLIS – Governor Mike Braun has directed flags to be flown at half-staff in honor of legendary former Notre Dame Fighting Irish Coach Lou Holtz. Coach Holtz led the Fighting Irish for 11 seasons, including the 1988 National Championship team.
"Coach Lou Holtz was a legend on and off the field, who cared deeply for the State of Indiana and lived a remarkable life grounded in faith, family, and giving back. He will be greatly missed." – Governor Mike Braun
Governor Braun has ordered flags to be lowered statewide at all state facilities from sunrise to sunset on the day of his funeral, Monday, March 16, 2026.
Governor Braun encourages all Hoosiers to help honor Holtz by lowering flags to half-staff at their homes and businesses.
Source: Email from: Governor of Indiana, Date: Thursday, March 5, 2026