DES MOINES, Iowa (KCRG) - Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds on Friday ordered all flags in the state to be flown at half-staff from sunrise to sunset on Oct. 9 in honor of the National Fallen Firefighters Memorial Service. The service honors the firefighters who died in the line of duty during the previous year. “The firefighters we remember today proved so dedicated to saving the lives of others that they didn’t hesitate to lay down their own,” Gov. Reynolds said in a press release. “We will never forget their remarkable sacrifice, nor that of their families. As we honor them by lowering our flags, we also thank all firefighters who protect our communities by responding to the most dangerous situations with bravery, coolness, and skill.” Flags will be at half-staff at the State Capitol Building and at all public buildings across the state. Businesses, schools and residents are encouraged to fly flags at half-staff as well. Copyright 2022 KCRG. All rights reserved.  Photo: Getty Images (Des Moines, IA) -- Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds is ordering flags to fly at half-staff to honor Queen Elizabeth. The order takes effect immediately and will continue thru internment, and is in line with President Biden's proclamation to lower all U-S flags to half staff thru internment. Flags will be at half-staff on the State Capitol Building and on flag displays in the Capitol Complex. Flags will also be half-staff on all public buildings, grounds and facilities throughout the state. Individuals, businesses, schools, municipalities, counties, and other government subdivisions are encouraged to fly the flags at half-staff for the same length of time. “Today we recognize the life and legacy of Queen Elizabeth II,” said Gov. Reynolds. “She was a remarkable and steadfast woman who fought side by side with the United States through some of the Free World’s most trying times. I’ll always admire her fortitude, love of freedom, and tenacity that has inspired other women in leadership. Kevin and I join with Iowans in sharing our condolences to the Royal Family.”
Water plant operator Kaleb Hogan lowers the Stars and Stripes to half-staff early Sunday at the Water Administration Building, 1111 Shaver Road NE, in Cedar Rapids. Gov. Kim Reynolds ordered flags at half-staff that day in honor of the National Fallen Firefighters Memorial Service. Her website, governor.iowa.gov, now indicates the flag status for the U.S. and state flags. (Jim Slosiarek/The Gazette) With 23 state orders so far this year to fly flags at half-staff as a sign of respect or mourning, it can be hard for building operators to make sure they have employees available to raise and lower the flags at the right times. “It’s a lot to keep up on,” said Elaina Kempin, assistant vice president of marketing for Fairfax State Savings Bank in Fairfax. To help, Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds has a new banner on her homepage to say whether flags should be at half or full staff — a helpful hint for people trying to track frequent orders. Alex Murphy, a spokesman for Reynolds, said the flag status banner was added to the Office of the Governor’s homepage in recent months. The white banner is right under the governor’s name. “This is a feature that exists on other governors' websites and given the large statewide audience that relies on the Governor's Office for information on flag status, we decided to add the feature to our website to ensure this information was readily available for Iowans,” he said. State flag orders, which usually honor an individual or group of people who have died, require all state buildings and grounds to lower the American and Iowa flags to half-staff during certain time periods, such as from sunrise to sunset, on a given day. The orders also state that “individuals, businesses, schools, municipalities, counties, and other government subdivisions are encouraged to fly the flags at half-staff for the same length of time.” Each of the 28 schools in the Iowa City Community School District has a flagpole and a custodial staff to lower the flags following state and federal flag orders, said Mike O’Connor, district custodial manager. “We get a notice, which we forward on to all our head custodians and trust them to take care of it,” he said. “If they don’t lower that flag when they are supposed to, someone will call us.” O’Connor said it can be tricky to make sure the flags are lowered at the right time and then raised to full staff again, especially on no-school days or in subzero weather. “It’s a little tedious in the winter when the rope is frozen,” O’Connor said. “As some of the new schools are built, they will get a better system. They will have a hand crank.” But the reminder on the governor’s homepage could help out someone who missed the details of a flag order, he said. “I think it’s good for people to check.” Fairfax State Savings Bank can’t lower its massive 40-by-80 foot American flag to half-staff on its 130-foot flagpole because it would touch the ground, which is against the U.S. Flag Code. Kempin has employees lower the flag 10 feet when there are state or federal orders, she said. The exception would be Sundays or holidays when no one is scheduled to work. The bank’s former chief executive officer, David Neuhaus, is a veteran, she said. “People do watch that stuff and they are conscious of it,” Kempin said. “They notice which businesses follow the guidelines and which ones don’t.” Kempin said the online flag status banner would be more helpful if it linked to recent flag orders so building operators could more easily figure out how long the flag order is in effect.
Oct. 9: National Fallen Firefighters Memorial Service Sept. 11: Patriot Day Sept. 8-10: Queen Elizabeth II’s Sept. 8 death Aug. 4: U.S. Rep. Jackie Walorski, of Indiana, who died in a car crash Aug. 3 July 11: Coralville Police Sgt. John Williams, who died of a medical emergency while responding to a police call July 10: Former Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, assassinated July 8 July 5-9: Victims of July 4 shooting at parade in Highland Park, Ill. June 22: Army Cpl. Kenneth Ford, of Albia, who died in the Korean War June 18: Fremont County Sheriff’s Deputy Austin “Melvin” Richardson, who died June 14 in crash with combine June 1: Former State Auditor Richard Johnson, who died May 26 May 31: Larry Spencer, a former prisoner of war from West Des Moines, and Jack Breedlove, of Cedar Rapids, killed at Pearl Harbor May 30: Memorial Day May 28: Victims of school shooting in Uvalde, Texas May 15: National Peace Officers Memorial May 14: Navy Seaman 1st Class David F. Tidball, killed at Pearl Harbor May 13: Navy Storekeeper 3rd Class Harry Nichols, killed at Pearl Harbor May 6: Iowa Peace Officer Memorial Ceremony March 27: Former U.S. Secretary of State Madeleine Albright, who died March 23 March 19: U.S. Don Young, of Alaska, who died March 18 March 9: West Memphis Firefighters Jason Lang, a North Liberty native, fatally struck by car while providing aid Feb. 23: Army Pfc. Don Dowler Jr., of Clarinda, killed in Korean War Feb. 17: U.S. Rep. Jim Hagedorn, of Minnesota, died Feb. 17 Jan. 13: Former U.S. Sen. Harry Reid, of Nevada, who died Dec. 28 Comments: (319) 339-3157;
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