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HFM BOCES
flag frequently at half staff
Lowered US flag reminds students and staff of sacrifice of
state's fallen service members
 OCTOBER
5, 2011
- Like all schools and state offices, HFM
BOCES respects the request of Governor Andrew Cuomo, who
directs flags to be flown at half-staff in honor of individual
New York State servicemen and women who are killed in action
around the world.
The governor's press release announcing
the directive can be found at
www.ny.gov/governor/.
Specifically, the flag was flown at
half-staff today, Oct. 5, 2011, to honor a Fort Drum soldier who
died in in Germany on Sept. 28 from wounds suffered in
Afghanistan.
First Sergeant Billy J. Siercks was assigned to the 2nd
Battalion, 10th Aviation Regiment of the 10th Mountain
Division's 10th Combat Aviation Brigade, based at Fort Drum.
First Sergeant Siercks was from Velda Village, Missouri.
"I extend my deepest condolences to the family, friends, and
fellow soldiers of First Sergeant Siercks," Governor Cuomo said.
"I join with all New Yorkers in honoring the service of this
Fort Drum soldier. We will mourn his loss."
Governor Cuomo has directed that the flags on all state
buildings be lowered to half-staff in honor of and in tribute to
our state's service members and those stationed in New York who
are killed in action or die in a combat zone.
Flying the American flag at half-staff is
an honor that can only be ordered by the governor of a state or
the president of the United States.
There are specific dates
— Memorial Day (sunrise to noon),
Pearl Harbor Day (Dec. 7), Patriots Day (Sept. 11), and Peace
Officers' Memorial Day (May 15) —
when the flag is required to be flown at half-staff.
Additionally, there are rules governing
when and how long the flag should be lowered to half-staff, such
as after the death of a president or former president, vice
presidents, members of Congress and the Supreme Court, and state
governors.
A complete explanation of flag etiquette
can be found at www.usflag.org.
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