LANSING - Governor Jennifer M. Granholm today ordered United States flags throughout the state of Michigan and on Michigan waters lowered for one day Friday, January 22, in honor of Army Sergeant Lucas T. Beachnaw of Lowell who died January 13 in Darya Ya, Afghanistan, while on active duty supporting Operation Enduring Freedom.  Flags should be returned to full-staff Saturday, January 23.

Sgt. Beachnaw, age 23, died from wounds suffered when enemy forces attacked his unit using small arms fire.  He was assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 503rd Infantry Regiment, 173rd Airborne Brigade Combat Team, Camp Ederle, Italy.  Sgt. Beachnaw had served one month of his second tour of duty in Afghanistan.

Funeral services will be held 10:30 a.m. Friday, January 22, at Ada Bible Church in Ada, Michigan, with burial in South Bingham Cemetery, St. Johns, Michigan. 

Under Section 7 of Chapter 1 of Title 4 of the United States Code, 4 USC 7, Governor Granholm, in December 2003, issued a proclamation requiring United States flags lowered to half-staff throughout the state of Michigan and on Michigan waters to honor Michigan servicemen and servicewomen killed in the line of duty.  Procedures for flag lowering were detailed by Governor Granholm in Executive Order 2006-10 and included in federal law under the Army Specialist Joseph P. Micks Federal Flag Code Amendment Act of 2007 (Public Law 110-41).

When flown at half-staff or half-mast, the United States 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.

When a member of the armed services from Michigan is killed in action, the governor will issue a press release with information about the individual(s) and the day that has been designated for flags to be lowered in his or her honor.  The information will also be posted on Governor Granholm's Web site at www.michigan.gov/govin the section titled "Spotlight."

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