You may have read recently the controversy that started when Easton’s Mayor Panto took it upon himself to lower a government flag to half staff on Saturday night, to honor 5 servicemen killed in a terrorist style assault by a lone gunman in Chattanooga, Tennessee, on July 16th.
Many saw the deed as the right thing to do, in the absence of the President issuing an order to do so. Others saw Panto overstepping his authority for the very same reason and a photo op for himself, as flag rules dictate that only the President of the United States is to decide when government flags fly at half staff, or in the case of a service member, the Governor from the service member’s state may choose to fly the national flag at half staff within that state.
Today, President Obama issued that order.
Killed in Chattanoogo were:
* Marine Gunnery Sgt. Thomas Sullivan
* Marine Staff Sgt. David Wyatt
* Marine Lance Cpl. Skip “Squire” Wells
* Marine Sgt. Carson Holmquist
* Navy Petty Officer 2nd Class Randall Smith
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Flags at Half-Staff
Through July 25
Honoring the Victims of the Tragedy in Chattanooga, Tennessee
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Our thoughts and prayers as a Nation are with the service members killed last week in Chattanooga. We honor their service. We offer our gratitude to the police officers and first responders who stopped the rampage and saved lives. We draw strength from yet another American community that has come together with an unmistakable message to those who would try and do us harm: We do not give in to fear. You cannot divide us. And you will not change our way of life.
We ask God to watch over the fallen, the families, and their communities. As a mark of respect for the victims of the senseless acts of violence perpetrated on July 16, 2015, in Chattanooga, Tennessee, by the authority vested in me as President of the United States by the Constitution and the laws of the United States of America, I hereby order that the flag of the United States shall be flown at half-staff at the White House and upon all public buildings and grounds, at all military posts and naval stations, and on all naval vessels of the Federal Government in the District of Columbia and throughout the United States and its Territories and possessions until sunset, July 25, 2015. I also direct that the flag shall be flown at half-staff for the same length of time at all United States embassies, legations, consular offices, and other facilities abroad, including all military facilities and naval vessels and stations.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this twenty-first day of July, in the year of our Lord two thousand fifteen, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and fortieth.
BARACK OBAMA
Disclaimer: On January 4, 2016, the owner of WestEastonPA.com began serving on the West Easton Council following an election. Postings and all content found on this website are the opinions of Matthew A. Dees and may not necessarily represent the opinion of the governing body for The Borough of West Easton.
