LANSING (WKZO) — Governor Rick Snyder has apparently had a change of heart after a public outcry about his decision not to lower flags to half staff for three Michigan Marines killed during a training exercise earlier this month.
He has now ordered flags at the Capitol and on state buildings to be lowered on Monday .
Snyder office initially determined that since the three marines; Staff Sergeants Andrew Seif of Holland, Marcus Bawol of Warren and Trevor Blaylock of Lake Orion, did not die in combat, that the state’s flag protocol did not meet the standard that they died “in the line of duty”.
The Governor says he also plans to review that protocol, which was drafted during a previous administration.
The Governors of the other victims from that crash have ordered flags flown at half-staff.
THE GOVERNOR’S STATEMENT FOLLOWS.
LANSING, Mich.– U.S. flags within the state Capitol Complex and on all state buildings will be lowered to half-staff on Monday, March 30, 2015, to honor the service and sacrifice of service members killed during a training exercise earlier this month, including three Marines from Michigan, Gov. Rick Snyder said.Snyder said the helicopter crash that claimed the lives of the Marines, including Staff Sergeants Marcus Bawol of Warren, Trevor Blaylock of Lake Orion and Andrew Seif of Holland, is a tragic loss for our country and our state.
“The crash is a reminder that the men and women serving our country make tremendous sacrifices and put themselves in harm’s way every day to keep us safe and protect our freedoms,” Snyder said. “We join their families and communities in mourning their loss and also recognizing with pride their bravery and dedication to our country. They are, unquestionably, heroes.”
The Marines were killed in a crash off the Florida coast on March 10, with their funerals or memorials services held on different dates.
Snyder said he wants to review long-standing flag protocols to determine if there should be changes. Existing flag protocols were developed with input from the Michigan Department of Military & Veterans Affairs and call for flags to be lowered across the state when members of the armed forces are lost in combat.
When flown at half-staff or half-mast, the U. S. flag should be hoisted first to the peak for an instant and then lowered to the half-staff or half-mast position. The flag should again be raised to the peak before it is lowered for the day. Flags should be returned to full-staff on Tuesday, March 31.