Sebelius directs flags to half-staff for Sgt. Courtney Finch
Governor issues an executive order to honor fallen Kansas Guardsman

Governor Kathleen Sebelius has directed flags to be flown at half-staff throughout Kansas on Thursday, August 2, 2007 in honor of Kansas National Guardsman Sgt. Courtney Dean Finch who died in Iraq last week.

“We join Sgt. Finch’s family in mourning their loss and in honoring the service Sgt. Finch provided to our state and nation,” said Sebelius.

Last Thursday 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.

Since April 2003, the conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan have claimed the lives of eight members of the Kansas National Guard and seven Kansas servicemen.

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

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