December 1, 2018                                                                                 

Governor Dayton Orders Flags Flown at Half-Staff in Honor of President George H. W. Bush

ST. PAUL, MN – In honor and remembrance of President George H. W. Bush, and in accordance with an order issued by President Donald Trump, Governor Mark Dayton has ordered all United States flags and Minnesota flags to be flown at half-staff at all state and federal buildings in the State of Minnesota, beginning immediately, for a period of 30 days from the day of his death.

The 41st President of the United States of America, George H.W. Bush, dedicated four decades of his life to public service. In addition to serving as President of the United States, he also served as the 43rd Vice President of the United States with President Ronald Reagan, as a Congressman in the United States House of Representatives, as US Ambassador to the United Nations, Envoy to China, and Director of the Central Intelligence Agency.

President George H. W. Bush passed away at the age of 94 in Houston, Texas on Friday, November 30, 2018. He had been diagnosed with a form of Parkinson’s disease, leaving him unable to walk, and intermittently battling health issues following the death of his wife, Barbara Bush, in May 2018.

A decorated navy pilot, President George H. W. Bush enlisted in the United States Navy on his 18th birthday, following the attack on Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941. At the time, he was the youngest aviator in the United States Navy. Bush served in the Navy until September 1945, then attended Yale University, and entered the oil business following graduation. He became involved in politics years later, serving the 7th District of Texas in the House of Representatives in 1966.

President George H.W. Bush is survived by his six children, including former United States President George W. Bush, and grandchildren. President Trump has designated Wednesday, December 5, 2018, as a National Day of Mourning.

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