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All United States and North Carolina flags are ordered to fly at half-staff Monday, May 25 in honor of military personnel who died while serving.
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Gov. Josh Stein ordered flags be lowered to half-staff from sunrise to noon on Monday for Memorial Day.
“On Memorial Day, we remember with deep gratitude those patriots who died in defense of our freedom,” Stein said in a news release. “The heroes who throughout our history paid the ultimate price in service to our nation have our respect and appreciation. Let us come together to honor their legacy by preserving their memories, celebrating their bravery, and nurturing our democracy they died defending. May their memories be a blessing.”
North Carolina has the fourth-largest military presence in the United States, including Fort Bragg, the largest Army base with more than 50,000 military personnel. North Carolina is home to nearly 700,000 veterans, according to North Carolina Department of Military and Veterans Affairs.
While Memorial Day is often the unofficial start to summer, some veteran and military groups urge people to remember the holiday is a solemn one.
The Wounded Warrior Project, a service organization for veterans injured since Sept. 11, 2001, encourages people to say “Have a meaningful Memorial Day” instead of “Happy Memorial Day.”
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“It’s also not appropriate to thank a service member for their service on this day, as it is a day for remembering and honoring those who made the ultimate sacrifice,” according to the Wounded Warrior Project.
Flags can be ordered lowered by the North Carolina Governor at state buildings and by a Presidential proclamation, which affects federal buildings, grounds and naval vessels.
“At no time shall an order be given that would result in the flag of the state of North Carolina being displayed in a manner inconsistent with the various policies governing the display of both the United States and North Carolina flags,” according to the flag code.
Stein previously ordered flags lowered to half-staff for a state trooper killed in a crash and after a state representative died from cancer, The N&O reported.
In addition to somber remembrances, the flags can be lowered for some holiday observances like:
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Portions of this story were previously reported by The News & Observer.