Kansas Governor Sebelius Directs Flags To Half-Staff For Sgt. Joel Murray

September 12, 2007 -- In honor of Sgt. Joel Lee Murray, Kansas Governor Kathleen Sebelius has directed flags throughout Kansas to be flown at half-staff from sunrise until sunset on Friday, September 14, 2007, the day of his funeral service.

Sgt. Murray, Ogden, died in Iraq on September 4th, near Camp Rustamiyah in Eastern Baghdad. Sgt. Murray was based in Fort Riley as an infantryman assigned to 2nd Battalion, 16th Infantry Regiment, 4th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, 1st Infantry Division. He entered the Army in January 2003, and he began serving with the 1st Infantry Division in April 2006. This was his second deployment overseas.

“Our thoughts and prayers are with Sgt. Murray’s family as they mourn the loss of a husband, father, son and brother.” said Sebelius.

Since April 2003, the conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan have claimed the lives of nine members of the Kansas National Guard and nine Kansas residents.

In July, Sebelius signed an executive order allowing for the flags of the United States and State of Kansas to be displayed at half-staff throughout the state when a member of the Kansas National Guard or Kansas Air National Guard is killed in the line of duty, or when a Kansas resident serving as a member of the United States Armed Forces is killed in the line of duty. In each instance, the date the flag will fly at half-staff will be designated by the Governor.

Executive orders can be found online at: http://www.governor.ks.gov/executive/Orders/default.htm

To be notified of the governor's directives regarding flag lowering, please visit http://www.governor.ks.gov/flaghonors.htm

Source: Kansas Governor

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