(WASHINGTON) – Congressman Bart Stupak (D-Menominee) has introduced legislation aimed at ensuring that federal agencies consistently lower their flags to half-staff when a governor proclaims this honor for fallen soldiers. 

“Those who make the ultimate sacrifice for our country deserve our absolute respect and honor,” Stupak said.  “The current rules for lowering flags are inconsistent between federal and state buildings, causing a patchwork showing of respect for troops and their families.”

Recently in northern Michigan, fallen soldiers were honored with lowered flags in their hometowns and at the sites of their memorial services, but not in surrounding communities.  While the post offices in the hometown and at the site of the memorial services were directed to lower their flags by the U.S. Postal Service, post offices in the neighboring communities were not, creating an uneven display of respect. 

Following those incidents this summer, Stupak wrote to President Bush, asking that he make the rule for lowering of flags uniform.  Having not heard back from the President, Stupak moved forward to introduce his own legislation this week.  Stupak’s legislation would require that all federal facilities within that state fly their flags at half mast consistent with a governor’s proclamation when a member of the Armed Forces from that state dies while serving on active duty.   By empowering the Governor of a state to direct all flags lowered, Stupak’s bill would ensure a consistent display of respect.  

“In rural parts of the country, it is particularly troublesome when the post office near a memorial service for a soldier lowers its flag, but a post office in a nearby community does not,” Stupak noted.  “This can be troubling for the community, let alone for the family that is honoring the loss of their loved one.  At minimum, we should ensure that all of the federal facilities in the area are respectful of the fallen troops and their families.”

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