Half-Staff Salute

To the Editor:

Flying the U.S. flag at halfstaff is a way to salute and honor those who have given their lives in service to our country. To honor fallen members of our Armed Forces during the morning of Memorial Day, the flag is lowered to half-staff, as well as, Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day.

In 2007, President George Bush signed legislation requiring all federal facilities to honor a member of the U.S. Armed Forces who died during active duty that they must follow the half-staff proclamation.

U.S. Code, Title 4, Chapter 1, section 7, subsection (m) states ... the flag is to be displayed at half-mast according to Presidential instructions or orders ... in the event of the death of a member of the Armed Forces ... who dies while serving on active duty. A private citizen is not bound by this code and can therefore ignore the Presidential orders by flying their flag at full mast on their private property. However, the flag code is required to be followed on public or government buildings.

County Judge Weber openly defied Presidential orders, stating that given his military background he knew what was the best way to honor those members killed in the airport attack in Afghanistan. I thank Judge Weber for his service to our country, as well as, all the past, present and future military members for their sacrifice for my freedom. I am saddened that Judge Weber refused to give the traditional half-staff salute, but instead made the deaths of these soldiers political.

David McCall

Waldeck