Gov. Gretchen Whitmer on Monday, July 13, ordered U.S. and Michigan flags within the State Capitol Complex and upon all public buildings and grounds across the state of Michigan to be lowered to half-staff on Tuesday, July 14, to honor a firefighter who died while on duty.
Emily Barker, of Clinton Township, was one of three firefighters killed while engaging in the initial attack on the Knowles Fire in Mesa County in western Colorado near the Utah border.
The two other fallen firefighters were identified as Nick Hutcherson, 27, of Glendale, Arizona, assigned to the USFS Kaibab National Forest; and Sydney Watson, 27, Warrior, Alabama, assigned to the USFS Rifle Helitack crew.
“Fire Fighter Emily Barker dedicated her life to protecting others, serving with courage and selflessness,” Whitmer said in a release. “Her sacrifice is a reminder of the extraordinary risks firefighters take every day to keep people and communities safe. Let’s honor this fallen hero and keep her family, friends, and fellow firefighters in our thoughts.”
A public memorial visitation is slated for 10 a.m. Tuesday, July 14, until the time of her public memorial service with full honors rendered by the United States Forest Service at noon at Bethesda Christian Church, 14000 Metro Parkway (16 Mile Road) in Sterling Heights.
To lower flags to half-staff, flags should be hoisted first to the peak for an instant and then lowered to the half-staff position. The process is reversed before the flag is lowered for the day.
Flags should be returned to full-staff on Wednesday, July 15, 2026.
President Donald Trump had previously ordered U.S. flags at federal institutions to be lowered to half-staff through July 18 in honor of South Carolina Sen. Lindsey Graham, who died over the weekend.
Graham died over the weekend from a tear in his aorta minutes after calling Trump to talk about the SAVE America Act. Graham also recently returned from a meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky
“Senator Lindsey Graham, one of the greatest people and Senators I have ever known, is dead,” Trump posted on Truth Social hours after Graham’s death was announced.
Here’s what to know about how to properly lower flags:
Why are the U.S. flags flying at half-staff?
President Donald Trump, in a post on Truth Social on July 12 said U.S. flags should fly at half-staff to honor Sen. Lindsey Graham, who died over the weekend, through July 18.
On Monday, Whitmer ordered U.S. and Michigan flags within the State Capitol Complex and upon all public buildings and grounds across the state of Michigan to be lowered to half-staff on Tuesday, July 14, to honor firefighter Emily Barker.
Who was Emily Barker?
Barker, of Clinton Township, was one of three firefighters killed while engaging in the initial attack on the Knowles Fire in Mesa County in western Colorado near the Utah border.
Barker, who lived in Glenwood Springs, Colorado, was a firefighter for 17 years, according to her obituary.
She was a lead wildland firefighter with the U.S. Forest Service Rifle Helitack Crew on the White River National Forest.
Emily is survived by her brother; Nick (Kim), sister; Lisa (Scott), nieces and nephew; Lilia, Phoebe and Remi, and mother, Rosemary (David). A public Memorial Visitation will be held on Tuesday, July 14, 2026, 10a.m. until the time of her public Memorial Service with full honors rendered by the United States Forest Service at 12 p.m. – Noon, at Bethesda Christian Church, 14000 Metro Parkway (16 Mile Road), Sterling Heights, Michigan 48312. In lieu of flowers, the family kindly requests that donations be made to Wildland Firefighter Foundation in remembrance of Emily Barker. Arrangements have been entrusted to the D.S. Temrowski & Sons Funeral Home, in Warren
When should U.S. and Michigan flags be flown at half-staff?
Trump posted on Truth Social American flags should be flown at half staff until 6 p.m. July 18.
Where should flags be flown at half-staff?
When the president orders flags to be flown at half-staff, the directive applies to flags flying at half-staff at the White House and 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.
How to correctly fly your flag at half-staff
On days when the flag is flown at half-staff, it should first be raised “briskly” to the top of the pole for an instant and then lowered slowly to the half-staff position, according to the U.S. Flag Code.
Before lowering the flag, it should again be raised to the top before being lowered for the day.
Do flags fly at half-mast or half-staff?
On ships and at naval stations ashore, flags are flown at half-mast.
On shore, flags are flown at half-staff.
Which days are Michigan and U.S. flags lowered?
State officials announce which days to fly Michigan and U.S. flags at half-staff online. You also can sign up for notifications about flag honors.
The flag is always lowered to half-staff on the following days by Gov. Gretchen Whitmer:
When flags are lowered to half staff, Michigan residents, businesses, schools, local governments, and other organizations are encouraged to display the flag at half staff.
This article originally appeared on Lansing State Journal: Why are flags at half-staff today? Whitmer honors fallen firefighter
Reporting by Dan Basso, USA TODAY NETWORK / Lansing State Journal
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
By Dan Basso, USA TODAY NETWORK | USA TODAY Network
