Flags lowered to half-staff in Wisconsin Monday for Army Spc. Robert Rieckhoff

March 26, 2010 - Flags at Wisconsin National Guard armories, air bases and other facilities across the state will fly at half-staff Monday, March 29 in honor of U.S. Army Spc. Robert Rieckhoff, 26, of Kenosha, who was killed in action in Baghdad, Iraq on Thursday, March 18. The Guard will render these honors in accordance with an executive order issued by Gov. Jim Doyle.

EXECUTIVE ORDER # 311 reads:

Relating to a Proclamation that the Flag of the United States and the Flag of the State of Wisconsin be Flown at Half-Staff as a Mark of Respect for Specialist Robert Rieckhoff of the United States Army Who Lost His Life While Serving His Country in Operation Iraqi Freedom

WHEREAS, on March 18, 2010, Specialist Robert Rieckhoff, who was assigned to 2nd Battalion, 15th Field Artillery Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division (Light Infantry), Fort Drum, New York, died while serving his country in Iraq; and

WHEREAS, Specialist Robert Rieckhoff provided faithful and honorable service to the people of the State of Wisconsin and the people of the United States; and

WHEREAS, the people of Wisconsin mourn the death of Specialist Robert Rieckhoff; and

WHEREAS, Specialist Robert Rieckhoff will be laid to rest on Monday, March 29, 2010;

NOW, THEREFORE, I, JIM DOYLE, Governor of the State of Wisconsin, by the authority vested in me by Federal and State law, do hereby order that the flag of the United States and the flag of the State of Wisconsin shall be flown at half-staff at all buildings, grounds and military installations of the State of Wisconsin equipped with such flags beginning at sunrise on Monday, March 29, 2010, and ending at sundown on that date.

All Wisconsin state government facilities are covered by the governor's order and a 2007 amendment to the U.S. Flag Code now requires all federal facilities in Wisconsin to comply. Other government agencies, businesses and private residences with flagpoles may also honor Spc. Robert Rieckhoff by lowering their U.S. and Wisconsin state flags to half-staff during the daylight hours on March 29.