Colorado Governor Bill Ritter has ordered all state flags to fly at half staff today in honor of Army Staff Sgt. Justin L. Bauer who was killed in Iraq on January 10th and laid to rest in Berthoud yesterday.  Lowering the flag to honor the fallen is of course wholly appropriate and should certainly be done to pay our respects to those that gave the last full measure of devotion.  As we wrote about yesterday SSG Bauer was an extraordinary man and exemplified the great men and women that serve – and have served – in our nation’s armed forces.

I do have to wonder though – The appropriate day to lower the flag is on the day of interment of the fallen.  It is a sign of respect and is the least we can do for SSgt Bauer, his wife, Kari, his mom, Connie, his father, Greg, his younger brothers, Jeremy and Jacob, his younger sister, Jessica as well as all those who knew him, other service members and our veterans. 

Governor Ritter however chose not to order this measure of respect on the appropriate day, instead ordering it the day after the fact.  Not only is this entirely disrespectful and inapprorpiate, it is counter to the governor’s own Flag Policy and Regulations.  To quote:

The Governor of the State of Colorado may order the United States flag and the Colorado State flag lowered at federal and state facilities, pursuant to the enactment of H.R. 692 as of June 29, 2007, for any Colorado service member killed while serving on active duty. The policy of Governor Bill Ritter, Jr. is to order the United States and Colorado flags lowered on the day of the service member’s funeral, and for the flags to remain lowered for the duration of the day.

So why wasn’t it done on the proper day?  Yes, Tuesday was Inauguration Day however, we will have this president for at least four years.  Staff Sgt. Justin Bauer was only buried on one day and that is the day the flag should have been lowered to half staff.  I will grant that the regulation goes on to say that the governor has the right to alter the rules as he sees fit however, I don’t know how this can be justified and I find the failure to render proper honors offensive. 

In not lowering the flag on the proper day, Governor Ritter and by proxy the State of Colorado have failed miserably in giving this man and his family the respect they deserve and that which is demanded. 

Colorado Governor’s Office Flag Policy and Regulations