LANSING, MI (WHTC) – It’s an apparent change of mind for Governor Snyder.
After saying earlier in the week that standard protocol prevented him from ordering flags lowered to half-staff across the state for three Michigan Marines killed in training exercises in the Gulf of Mexico, the Chief Executive announced on Friday evening that such an order has now been issued for this coming Monday, March 30.
Andrew Seif of the Holland area, along with fellow Staff Sergeants Marcus Bawol and Trevor Blaylock, both of suburban Detroit, were among 11 military members aboard a Black Hawk helicopter that crashed off of the Florida Panhandle on March 10. Although he had personal contact with the families of all three men after the incident, the Governor said that flag lowering could only be for those who had fallen while in active combat, sparking a strong online outcry.
In the statement announcing the Monday lowering, Mr. Snyder’s office said that “he wants to review long-standing flag protocols to determine if there should be changes. Existing flag protocols were developed with input from the Michigan Department of Military & Veterans Affairs.”
