MARINE CITY -- Governor Jennifer M. Granholm today ordered United States flags throughout the state of Michigan and on Michigan waters lowered for one day Wednesday, November 17, 2010, in honor of Army Private First Class Shane M. Reifert of Cottrellville, Michigan, who died November 6 in Kunar province, Afghanistan. Flags should be returned to full-staff Thursday, November 18.Pfc. Reifert, age 23, died from injuries suffered when insurgents attacked his unit with small arms fire. He was assigned to the 1st Battalion, 327th Infantry Regiment, 1st Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault), Fort Campbell, Kentucky.
Pfc. Reifert’s family has requested that flags be lowered Wednesday, November 17, the day of his funeral service at 11:00 a.m. at Our Lady on the River Holy Cross Parish in Marine City. His burial will take place on Thursday, November 18 at 12:30 p.m. at the Great Lakes National Cemetery in Holly, Michigan. Visitation is scheduled for Monday, November 15 from 2:00-9:00 p.m., with a prayer service on Tuesday, November 16 at 7:30 p.m. at Gendernalik Funeral Home, New Baltimore, 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 Website at www.michigan.gov/gov in the section titled “Spotlight.”
