President Barack Obama issued this proclamation earlier today, calling on Americans to remember the victims of the shooting in Connecticut, and fly flags at half staff through sunset, December 18, in the victims’ honor:
The White House
Office of the Press Secretary
For Immediate ReleaseDecember 14, 2012
Presidential Proclamation — Honoring the Victims of the Shooting in Newtown, Connecticut
HONORING THE VICTIMS OF THE TRAGEDY IN NEWTOWN, CONNECTICUT
– – – – – – –
BY THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
A PROCLAMATION
As a mark of respect for the victims of the senseless acts of violence perpetrated on December 14, 2012, in Newtown, Connecticut, by the authority vested in me as President of the United States by the Constitution and the laws of the United States of America, I hereby order that the flag of the United States shall be flown at half-staff at the White House and upon 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 until sunset, December 18, 2012. I also direct that the flag shall be flown at half-staff for the same length of time at all United States embassies, legations, consular offices, and other facilities abroad, including all military facilities and naval vessels and stations.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this fourteenth day of December, in the year of our Lord two thousand twelve, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and thirty-seventh.
BARACK OBAMA
The Governor of Michigan, Rick Snyder, following the practice established by his predecessor, Jennifer Granholm, notified Michiganders of orders on flying the flag through an e-mail list-serv. He’s Republican, she’s a Democrat. Michigan honors each Michigan soldier killed with half-staff flags.
Does your state’s governor offer a similar service? If not, why not call and ask that they do?
This note came from Michigan today:
President Obama has ordered the flag of the United States lowered to half-staff until sunset on Tuesday, December 18, 2012 to honor the victims of the school shooting in Newtown, CT.
“The senseless acts of violence witnessed today in Newtown are unthinkable,” said Snyder. “My sincere condolences, thoughts and prayers go out to the parents and entire families forever impacted by this tragic event.”
We have included a PDF of the president’s official proclamation.
Thank you,
Executive Office of Governor Rick Snyder
State of Michigan
Thank you for subscribing to updates from Governor Rick Snyder. We welcome questions and appreciate comments at our Contact Us page. However, please do not reply to this email. This is an unmonitored address, and replies to this email cannot be responded to or read.
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Remember, flag etiquette suggests that the flag should be briskly raised to the full staff position, then slowly lowered to half-staff. If your flagpole is less than 30 feet high, you may want to be sure the flag’s lower grommet is at the half-way point, and not the top grommet.
Stamford, Connecticut, Fire Department Honor Guard puts the U.S. flag at half staff, in Stamford (photo from an earlier event) – Photo: Amy Mortensen / Connecticut Post Freelance
More:
- Official: Connecticut school shooting leaves 27 dead, including 18 children (newsday.com)
- Governor Orders Flags To Half-Staff (connecticut.cbslocal.com)
- White House Proclamation On Newtown School Shooting (connecticut.cbslocal.com)
Posted by Ed Darrell 
Millard Fillmore's Bathtub 