Des Moines, Iowa — There are a number of reasons to fly flags at half-staff this weekend.
Sheldon Mayor Katricia Meendering asked that flags in Sheldon be flown at half-staff in honor and memory of Sheldon Fire Chief Jerry Meyer, who passed away on Tuesday after 39 years of service to the Sheldon Fire Company. Meendering asked for flags to be flown at half-staff until Monday, October 8th.
On Friday, Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds ordered all flags in Iowa to fly at half-staff from sunrise on Saturday, October 6th to sunset on Sunday, October 7th, 2018. The half-staff on Saturday is to honor a fallen soldier and on Sunday the half-staff is for the National Fallen Firefighters Memorial service.
Army Private Donald E. Brown, of Thompson, was killed in action on July 28, 1944, when his tank was destroyed by enemy fire in France. The 24-year-old’s remains were buried at an American military cemetery in France as an unknown soldier. The remains were disinterred in August 2017 and identified through DNA testing. Brown will be buried with full military honors Saturday in Thompson.
On Sunday, October 7th, the lives of 80 firefighters who died in the line of duty in 2017 and 23
firefighters who died in previous years will be honored during the National Fallen Firefighters
Memorial Service. A bronze plaque bearing the names of the fallen will be officially added to the National Fallen Firefighters Memorial in Emmitsburg, Maryland.
Flags will be at half-staff on the Iowa State Capitol Building and on flag displays in the Capitol Complex. Flags will also be at half-staff on all public buildings, grounds, and facilities throughout the state.
Individuals, businesses, schools, municipalities, counties and other government subdivisions are encouraged to fly the flag at half-staff for the same length of time as a sign of respect.
