Monday is the first of five remembrance days this year that Gov. Bob Ferguson has directed flags be lowered.
SEATTLE — Flags in Washington state will be at half-staff Sunday and Monday to honor firefighters who were killed in the line of duty.
Last week, President Donald Trump named May 2-3 National Fallen Firefighters Memorial Weekend. He ordered U.S. flags be flown at half-staff at all federal office buildings on Sunday.
In a separate proclamation, Gov. Bob Ferguson directed state and U.S. flags at state agencies be lowered Monday and remain at half-staff until close of business or sunset. Ferguson’s order was tied to National Firefighters Memorial Day.
The National Fallen Firefighters Foundation encouraged residents to lower flags at their own homes as well, saying the action would honor those who died protecting their communities from emergencies and disasters, as well as those who “carry on the proud tradition.”
Flag lowering to honor this particular group has been around for several decades. President George W. Bush approved legislation on Oct. 16, 2001, requiring the flag be lowered annually at federal buildings to honor fallen firefighters.
The governor’s office directs flags to be lowered to half-staff in the event of a death of a government official or civil rights leader, as well as government and public safety employees and Washington servicemembers killed in the line of duty. When the U.S. president issues a flag-lowering order, Ferguson makes a corresponding directive.
There are four additional remembrance days that Ferguson has directed flags be lowered this year:
– May 15: Peace Officers Memorial Day
– May 25: Memorial Day (flag lowered sunrise to noon)
– Sept. 11: Patriot Day
– Dec. 7: National Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day
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