Gov. Chris Gregoire has directed that flags at all Washington state agency buildings be lowered to half-staff today, in memory of U.S. Army Sergeant Alexander J. Bennett of Tacoma. Bennett died Aug. 6th in Afghanistan when the helicopter he was in crashed.

Flags should remain at half-staff until close of business Tuesday, or first thing Wednesday morning, Aug. 17th.

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.

Anybody wanting email notification when the governor directs flags to be lowered to half-staff can sign up at: http://listserv.wa.gov/cgi-bin/wa?SUBED1=FLAGALERT&A=1.