Flags To Fly At Half-Staff Through This Weekend As Mark Of Respect For Libyan Ambassador

Date posted - September 15, 2012

Washington, DC — As a mark of respect for the memory of John Christopher Stevens, United States Ambassador to Libya, and American personnel killed in the attack on our diplomatic facility in Benghazi, President Barack Obama has ordered US government flags to fly at half-staff this weekend.

Other government offices, businesses and individuals are also asked to fly the flag at half-staff as a sign of respect. Obama called the attacks, “senseless”.

Here is the text of the proclamation:

As a mark of respect for the memory of John Christopher Stevens, United States Ambassador to Libya, and American personnel killed in the senseless attack on our diplomatic facility in Benghazi, 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, September 16, 2012. 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 twelfth day of September, in the year of our Lord two thousand twelve, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and thirty-seventh.

BARACK OBAMA