October 17, 2017                                                                             

Governor Dayton Orders Flags Flown at Half-Staff in Honor of Emergency Medical Technician Marina DeSteno Challeen

ST. PAUL, MN – In honor and remembrance of Emergency Medical Technician Marina DeSteno Challeen, Governor Mark Dayton has ordered all United States flags and Minnesota flags be flown at half-staff at all state and federal buildings in the State of Minnesota, from sunrise until sunset, on Wednesday, October 18, 2017.

DeSteno Challeen, twenty-four years of age, was raised in Stillwater and was a graduate of Stillwater Area High School and the University of Minnesota. She died on Monday, October 9, 2017, in a tragic collision when the ambulance in which she was riding collided with a semi-truck in Brooklyn Center.

The State of Minnesota recognizes DeSteno Challeen for her dedicated service to, and sacrifice for, her fellow citizens of Minnesota, with its deepest gratitude. A celebration of her life, will be held on Wednesday, October 18, 2017, at St. Andrew’s Lutheran Church in Mahtomedi, Minnesota.

At the direction of the Governor, Minnesota flies its flags at half-staff following the death of Minnesota first responders killed in the line of duty, on the day of interment. A copy of Governor Dayton’s proclamation, ordering flags to be flown at half-staff across our state, can be found here.

Flags at Half-Staff In keeping with appropriate flag etiquette and U.S. Code, Minnesota Governor Mark Dayton may order the state flag to be flown at half-staff under very limited circumstances. He may also order the national flag to be flown at half-staff on state property only. A state flag on state property is required by law to be flown at half-staff if the national flag is flown at half-staff.

                           Office of Governor Mark Dayton •  www.mn.gov/governor