All Star Flags Flag Half-Staff Announcements | All Star Flags - Part 54

American Flags and Montana Flags to fly at half-staff Thursday, April 19th in the state of Montana in honor of Montana Air National Guard Senior Airman Robert Armstrong.

American Flags and Washington State Flags to fly at half-staff Friday, April 20th in the state of Washington in honor of USMC Lance Corporal Ramon Kaipat.

Lance Corporal Ramon T. Kaipat died April 11 while conducting combat operations in Afghanistan.

American Flags and Montana Flags to fly at half-staff Tuesday, April 17th through Wednesday, April 18th in honor of US Army Corporal Antonio Burnside who died in Afghanistan in support of Operation Enduring Freedom.

American Flags and Illinois Flags to fly at half-staff Monday, April 16th through Wednesday, April 18th in honor of Fire Captain John C. Winkelman of the Huntley Fire Department who died in a motorcycle accident.

American Flags and Missouri Flags to fly at half-staff Wednesday, April 18th in the state of Missouri in honor of US Army Specialist Jeffrey Lee White Jr.

Flags are to fly at half-staff in Franklin County from April 19th through April 24th.

According to the office of the governor:
US Army Specialist White died on April 3 of wounds he sustained when an improvised explosive device detonated near his patrol in Afghanistan, as part of Operation Enduring Freedom. Specialist White was assigned to the 1st Battalion (Airborne), 501st Infantry Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team (Airborne), 25th Infantry Division, Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, Alaska. His awards and decorations include the Bronze Star Medal, Purple Heart, Army Good Conduct Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Afghanistan Campaign Medal with Bronze Service Star, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Army Service Ribbon, Overseas Service Ribbon, NATO Medal, Combat Infantryman Badge, Basic Parachutist Badge, Combat and Special Skill Badge Basic Marksmanship Qualification Badge (Bar, Weapon: Rifle (Inscription: Rifle), Expert), and the Overseas Service Bar.

American Flags and Missouri Flags to fly at half-staff Saturday, April 14th in the state of Missouri in honor of US Army Staff Sgt Tyler James Smith.

Flags are to fly at half-staff in Texas County from April 15th through April 20th.

According to the office of the governor:
Staff Sergeant Smith died on April 3 of wounds he sustained when an improvised explosive device detonated in Afghanistan, as part of Operation Enduring Freedom. Staff Sergeant Smith was assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 508th Parachute Infantry Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 82nd Airborne Division, Fort Bragg, North Carolina. His awards and decorations include the Bronze Star Medal, Purple Heart, Army Commendation Medal, Army Achievement Medal, Army Good Conduct Medal (2 awards), National Defense Service Medal, Afghanistan Campaign Medal w/Bronze Service Star, Iraq Campaign Medal w/Bronze Service Star, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Noncommissioned Officers Professional Development Ribbon, Army Service Ribbon, NATO Medal, Combat Infantryman Badge, Expert Infantryman Badge, Basic Parachutist Badge, Combat and Special Skill Badge Basic Marksmanship Qualification Badge (Bar, Weapon: Rifle (Inscription: Rifle), Expert), and the Overseas Service Bar (2 awards).

What’s in a Flag?
With the recent political changes in its country, Libya joins South Sudan as the second country to hoist a new flag in the last year. South Sudan’s new flag has six colors and is one of only two national flags to have that many colors. Among its features is a gold five-pointed star, which is believed to symbolize its people. The new flag of Libya has added three colors and features a white crescent and a five-pointed star. But what really makes a great flag design?
According to the North American Vexillological Association (people who study these things!), five basic principles make up a great flag:
-Keep it simple
-Use meaningful symbolism
-Use 2-3 basic colors
-No lettering or seals
-Be distinctive or related
So how did South Sudan and Libya do? Capturing the essence of a nation—its values, beliefs, landscape—in the design of a flag is not easy. If you were a vexillographer, what would your flag look like? Let us know what you think.

Pennsylvania Flags to fly at half-staff Wednesday, April 11th through Saturday, April 14th in honor of Philadelphia firefighters Lt. Robert Neary and Daniel Sweeny. Both men died in the line of duty fighting a warehouse fire.

American Flags and Illinois Flags to fly at half-staff Thursday, April 12th through Saturday, April 14th in honor of US Marine Cpl Alex Martinez.

North Carolina Flags to fly at half-staff Wednesday, April 11th in Guilford County, NC in honor of former State Sen. Bob Shaw.

According to the office of the governor:
State Senator Bob Shaw served in the Senate for 18 years, beginning in 1984, and spent some of that time as the minority leader. Before that, he was chairman of the state Republican Party. He also served on the Guilford County Commission, both as chair and vice chair.