Michigan's flags are at half staff today. Here's why they've been lowered
U.S. flags are half staff today in Michigan to honor a U.S. Army staff sergeant from Battle Creek who was killed during a training accident in Lithuania, along with three other soldiers.
'(Staff Sgt. Troy) Knutson-Collins represented the best of Michigan as he served our nation in uniform,' Gov. Gretchen Whitmer said. 'A fierce friend and proud son, he leaves behind a legacy we should all strive to live up to. My thoughts are with his family, friends, and fellow soldiers.'
Knutson-Collins, Jose Duenez Jr., 25, of Joliet, Illinois, and Edvin Franco, 25 of Glendale, California, all were posthumously promoted to the rank of staff sergeant. Pfc. Dante D. Taitano, 21, of Dededo, Guam, also died in the training.
Here's what to know.
The soldiers' M88A2 Hercules was reported missing March 25 while conducting a mission to repair and tow an immobilized tactical vehicle in support of regularly scheduled training at Pabradė, Lithuania.
Three soldiers and the vehicle were found in a peat bog by U.S., Polish and Lithuanian armed forces on March 31. The Army said the fourth soldier was recovered later.
Knutson-Collins joined the Army in 2018, the release said.
Knutson-Collins was an artillery mechanic with more than seven years in the Army. He arrived at Fort Stewart, Georgia, in February 2018 and was assigned to 1st Battalion, 41st Field Artillery Regiment.
Knutson-Collins graduated from the Army Basic Leader Course, the Advanced Leaders Course, the Tracked Vehicle Recovery Operations course, and the Combat Lifesaver course, according to the Army. He deployed to Korea in 2020.
Knutson-Collins' awards and decorations include the Army Commendation Medal with oak leaf cluster, Army Good Conduct Medal, Army Achievement Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, and Master Technician Badge.
A full obituary is available online.
Michigan residents, businesses, schools, local governments, and other organizations also are encouraged to display the flag at half-staff, the governor said in a news release.
Flags should be returned to full staff on Saturday, May 3, 2025.
To lower flags to half-staff, flags should be hoisted first to the peak for an instant and then lowered to the half-staff position. The process is reversed before the flag is lowered for the day.
Flagpoles on the ground or buildings are called staffs. Flags lowered on shore are called half-staff, according to Americanflags.com.
Half-mast refers to flags lowered on a ship, while flagpoles are called staffs.
Certain holidays and events when flags are flown at half-staff in the United States, according to the U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs website are:
Memorial Day, when the flag should be displayed at half-staff until noon only, then raised to the top of the staff.
Peace Officers Memorial Day, unless that day is also Armed Forces Day.
Patriot Day.
National Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day.
National Firefighters Memorial Day.
Detroit Free Press, Battle Creek Enquirer contributed.
Jalen Williams is a trending reporter at the Detroit Free Press. Contact him at jawilliams1@freepress.com.
This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Flags at half-staff honor Battle Creek soldier Troy S. Knutson-Collins
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