Photo Essay: Flag flown at half-staff in honor of former Secretary of Defense Rumsfeld

Photo By Scott Sturkol | The flag of the United States is shown at half-staff Aug. 23, 2021, at Fort McCoy, Wis., in honor of former Secretary of Defense Donald J. Rumsfeld. Rumsfeld was laid to rest at Arlington National Cemetery on Aug. 23, and the flag-lowering order was issued by the current secretary of Defense. According to the Department of Veterans Affairs, an easy way to remember when to fly the United States flag at half-staff is to consider when the whole nation is in mourning. These periods of mourning are proclaimed either by the president of the United States, for national remembrance, or the governor of a state or territory, for local remembrance, in the event of a death of a member or former member of the federal, state, or territorial government or judiciary. The heads of departments and agencies of the federal government may also order that the flag be flown at half-staff on buildings, grounds, and naval vessels under their jurisdiction. (U.S. Army Photo by Scott T. Sturkol, Public Affairs Office, Fort McCoy, Wis.)  

FORT MCCOY, WISCONSIN, UNITED STATES

09.13.2021

Story by Scott Sturkol                                                                                               

Fort McCoy Public Affairs Office           

The flag of the United States is shown at half-staff Aug. 23, 2021, at Fort McCoy, Wis., in honor of former Secretary of Defense Donald J. Rumsfeld.

Rumsfeld was laid to rest at Arlington National Cemetery on Aug. 23, and the flag-lowering order was issued by the current secretary of Defense.

According to the Department of Veterans Affairs, an easy way to remember when to fly the United States flag at half-staff is to consider when the whole nation is in mourning.

These periods of mourning are proclaimed either by the president of the United States, for national remembrance, or the governor of a state or territory, for local remembrance, in the event of a death of a member or former member of the federal, state, or territorial government or judiciary.

The heads of departments and agencies of the federal government may also order that the flag be flown at half-staff on buildings, grounds, and naval vessels under their jurisdiction.

Fort McCoy’s motto is to be the “Total Force Training Center.” Located in the heart of the upper Midwest, Fort McCoy is the only U.S. Army installation in Wisconsin. The installation has provided support and facilities for the field and classroom training of more than 100,000 military personnel from all services nearly every year since 1984.

Learn more about Fort McCoy online at https://home.army.mil/mccoy, on Facebook by searching “ftmccoy,” and on Twitter by searching “usagmccoy.”

Also try downloading the Digital Garrison app to your smartphone and set “Fort McCoy” or another installation as your preferred base.

• Date Taken: 09.13.2021
• Date Posted: 09.13.2021 13:05
• Story ID: 405091
• Location: FORT MCCOY, WISCONSIN, US