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Wednesday, Nov. 04, 2009

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FLAGS: Gregoire orders flags lowered for fallen soldiers

By Herald staff

Olympia Flags will be flown at half-staff today and Thursday in honor of two soldiers killed last week in Afghanistan.

Gov. Chris Gregoire ordered the flags at all state agency buildings be lowered in memory of U.S. Army Chief Warrant Officer Niall D. Lyons of Spokane, and U.S. Army Private First Class Christopher Walz of Vancouver.

The flags will be lowered for Lyons today. He was killed in Afghanistan when the helicopter he was riding in crashed.

And Walz, who died when his military vehicle hit an improvised explosive device, will be honored Thursday.

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 the recognition.



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