Flags at Wisconsin are flying at half-staff Sunday, May 3 in honor of the state’s firefighters who have died in the line of duty, per an executive order from Gov. Tony Evers.
Along with lowering flags statewide, Evers also designated May 2-3 as National Fallen Firefighters Memorial Weekend. The weekend will pay tribute to “all those who have lost their lives in the line of duty in service and the loved ones who miss and mourn them every day,” Evers said in a news release.
“Our firefighters run toward danger, putting their health, safety, and life at risk to serve our neighbors during what is often their darkest hour of need,” Evers said. “For that, we owe them an incredible debt of gratitude.”
The state will continue to honor fallen firefighters throughout the year with a September memorial event in Wisconsin Rapids and during Wisconsin’s annual Fire Prevention Week in October. Flags will also be lowered for those two events.
Here’s what else to know about the order.
How long will flags be at half-staff?
Flags will fly at half-staff from sunrise to sunset Sunday, May 3.
Per the governor’s order, flags will also fly half-staff on Saturday, Sept. 26, when the Wisconsin Fire & EMS Memorial in Wisconsin Rapids will hold a memorial for the state’s fire services members who have died in the line of duty.
After the memorial, Wisconsin will hold its Fire Prevention Week during the week of Oct. 4-10, which will conclude with Wisconsin Firefighters Memorial Day on Saturday, Oct. 10. Flags will again be lowered on that Saturday in honor of fallen firefighters.
Where will flags be at half-staff?
According to Evers’ order, the American flag and the Wisconsin state flag will fly at half-staff at all buildings, grounds and military installations belonging to the state of Wisconsin.
Why do flags fly at half-staff?
U.S. flags typically fly at half-staff in the wake of national tragedies or after deaths of government officials, military members or first responders. They also fly at half-staff on Memorial Day and other national days of remembrance, including 9/11.
“The United States flag flies at half-staff or at half-mast when the nation or a state is in mourning,” USA.gov says. “The president, a state governor, or the mayor of the District of Columbia can order flags to fly at half-staff.”
This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: What Wisconsin is honoring as flags fly at half‑staff Sunday
Reporting by Maia Pandey, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel / Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
