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Flags Ordered At Half Staff Today For Lance Cpl Travis Nelson
August 26, 2011
Florida Governor Rick has ordered all state and national flags in Escambia County to be flown at half staff Friday for Lance Corporal Travis M. Nelson who died August 18 in Helmand province, Afghanistan, in support of Operation Enduring Freedom.
Nelson’s funeral will be held Friday in Atmore. Flags in Escambia County, Alabama, and Atmore have not been ordered to half staff. A spokesperson for Alabama Gov. Robert Bentley said his office does not order flags to half staff for fallen soldiers.
Pictured: The flag at half-staff at the Walnut Hill Community Center. The name of Lance Cpl Travis Nelson was added to the Walnut Hill Veterans Wall of Honor Monday. He was the first Walnut Hill area resident killed in action since 1969. NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge.
Comments
21 Responses to “Flags Ordered At Half Staff Today For Lance Cpl Travis Nelson”
“Sticklers” comments are TOTALLY inaccurate and baseless!
The “hate” comments regarding Governor Bentley which followed….. reflect the willingness of UNINFORMED people to criticize elected officials!
CHJ in Alabama
Stickler and Oversight
Even though I agree with Stickler,
“we the people will take it upon ourselves to lower the American flag that Travis Nelson died for.”
This is not about either of YOU!!!! It is about the SACRIFICE Marine LCpl Travis Nelson made and gave and the loss to his is family!!!
No bickering please………………God Bless this Marine and his Family. Thank you for the peace and freedom that I have from this family’s BRAVE and HONORABLE son!
Oversight, the law as amended says “In the event of the death of a present or former official of the government of any State, territory, or possession of the United States or the death of a member of the Armed Forces from any State, territory, or possession who dies while serving on active duty, the Governor of that State, territory, or possession may proclaim that the National flag shall be flown at half-staff”
see the full text with amendments here:
http://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/04/7.html
It’s secton (m)
In response to “Stickler”
Read 4 USC 7 at http://frwebgate1.access.gpo.gov/cgi-bin/TEXTgate.cgi?WAISdocID=ngDbwG/0/1/0&WAISaction=retrieve and you might learn something about flag etiquette. However, no where do I find in the law that a state governor has the authority to order the U.S. Ensign to be flown at half-staff. This authority is reserved for the U.S. President. A nice gesture of respect, but “Florida Governor Rick” has overstepped his authority.
If I were bently, I would be ashamed to show my face. How did such a mind wander into the halls of government. Lord please be with the family of Travis, a true gentleman and patriot.
Amen Stickler. Amen
why does it have to be a order, it just should be a given fact, that when a soldier dies the flag should go to half staff.just sayin.
I have been raised all my life that to show respect you fly your flag at half mast, so personally i dont think people should be ordered to do this, i feel it should be something the people automatically do as fellow human beings and fellow americans. that being said i have family in the military so i feel they should all be given the upmost respect they deserve for making the sacrifices they make to give us our freedoms and way of life…they deserve respect at all times no matter what the case…it dont have to be a half mast flag, could be just as small as a simple thank you for your service and sacrifices…believe me you’d be amazed at how far it goes and how good it makes them feel…even if you dont know them just tell them thanks once in a while
According to U.S. law (4U.S.C. § 7), the flag can only be flown at half-staff upon the order of the president, a governor (or the mayor in the case of the District of Columbia), except for predetermined dates and situations, such as the death of a president or a member of Congress. A local mayor or county can’t issue an order to lower the flag, and it’s against U.S. Code to lower it when not ordered by the President or a governor.
That said, I’ll be out lowering my flag in the morning for Lance Corporal Travis Nelson, a far greater hero that “governor” Robert Bentley. If you, Robert Bentley are not enough of American to order the flag lowered for an American hero being buried in your state, then we the people will take it upon ourselves to lower the American flag that Travis Nelson died for.
Flags were flown half mast yesterday and will be half mast tommorow aboard NAS Pensacola!!!
Semper Fi
Governor Bentley might not have ordered the flags lowered, but the public school system did. Many businesses also have their flags lowered.
My flag has been flying this way since this happened, waiting for Travis’s body to arrive back home with his family. Prayers are continuing for Beckie, Scott and family. Travis was truely a hero to all of us.
All the Flags in Atmore have been at half staff since nelson arrived. and I dare someone to raise it up to full staff.
I know that all of the flags in Atmore have been lowered to half staff all week, even if the governor can’t be bothered!
I live in Escambia county Alabama and my flag will be lowered in honor of this American hero!
What a wonderful tribute and honor to celebrate the ultimate sacrifice made by LCPL Nelson. Rest easy, Marine….you are finally home. Thank you Gov. Scott for honoring him in that way.
It is a shame that they did not order the half staffed flag to be flown in Alabama, this is ridiculous, I agree with everyones comments and I am discusted and I hope and pray Atmore flies it the approprite way in honor of this man, we should stand for what is RIGHT ! This makes me furious ! Truly unbelievable !
Thank you Gov. Scott. I am so thankful I live in Florida, and not Alabama. Alabama should fly their flags at half staff for our fallen military.
I have no use for bentleys kind.
I think it is really sad that the Alabama Gov. Robert Bentley doesn’t order flags to half staff for fallen soldiers. I bet if his child sacrificed their life for our country like 6,000 sons and daughters have, he’d make an order to fly half staff!! He should be ashamed!
I am proud to be a Floridian and appalled at Alabama’s governor. I think the entire country should fly at half staff everytime a solider dies. They areforgot fighting for our COUNTRY not ind. states! I don’t care if it stays at half staff until every soldier comes home. I hope Atmore goes against the gov. And makes the choice to fly half staff!