All United States and North Carolina flags are at half-staff on Tuesday, Sept. 22 to memorialize military veteran Sean Micheal Lee.
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Lee, 50, died on Sunday, Sept. 13 from esophageal cancer linked to burn pit exposure, The Stars and Stripes reported. Funeral services are planned at 2 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 22 in Weddington.
The Connecticut native served more than 20 years in the United States Army, including multiple combat deployments in Iraq and Afghanistan as a paratrooper with the 82nd Airborne Division at Fort Bragg, according to his obituary.
“Sean Michael Lee spent his career in service to this country, defending our freedoms and then supporting those who made that same courageous choice,” said Gov. Josh Stein in a news release. “Let us support his family and friends as they navigate this loss, and let us honor his memory by continuing to support our men and women in uniform. May his memory be a blessing.”
In 2021, Lee helped coordinate the evacuation of thousands of Afghan allies, and in 2022 he helped evacuate a severely wounded Fox News correspondent, Benjamin Hall, in Ukraine. He also previously helped deliver aid to those affected by Hurricane Helene, and served in the U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs.
“Some families are formed by blood,” according to his obituary. “Others are forged through war, loss, loyalty, shared purpose, and the decision to keep showing up for one another. Sean had both.”
“His life cannot be measured simply in years, deployments, jobs, or missions. It is measured in people who made it home because he went toward danger.”
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RIP Sean Lee. He saved my life, and so many others, and is everything that a hero should be. Thank you for getting me home to my family and my daughters. We will never forget. https://t.co/9pAY9Ir7X6
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:
Portions of this story were previously reported by The News & Observer.
This story was originally published September 22, 2026 at 10:29 AM with the headline “Why are flags at half-staff today in NC? Here’s what to know.”
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