Blog

Mar 25, 2024

Flags at half

The U.S. and Wisconsin state flag will be flown at half-staff Saturday, Aug. 12 in honor of 19-year-old Lance Corporal Tanner Kaltenberg, who died July 23, 2023. Kaltenberg, a motor vehicle operator

The U.S. and Wisconsin state flag will be flown at half-staff Saturday, Aug. 12 in honor of 19-year-old Lance Corporal Tanner Kaltenberg, who died July 23, 2023.

Kaltenberg, a motor vehicle operator at Camp Lejeune in North Carolina, was found dead July 23 with two others from his unit, Merax C. Dockery of Pottawatomie, Oklahoma, and Ivan R. Garcia, of Naples, Florida. All three Marines were in a car at a gas station near Camp Lejuene; they died of carbon monoxide poisoning, autopsies found.

Following his graduation from Verona Area High School in May 2021, Kaltenberg enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps, according to a news release from Gov. Tony Evers' office. He completed boot camp at the U.S. Marine Corps Recruit Depot in San Diego. He was also stationed at Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri, and, most recently, Camp Lejeune.

“Our hearts are heavy for Lance Corporal Tanner Kaltenberg’s loved ones, fellow Marines, and the Verona community as they mourn this tragic loss,” Evers said in a statement. “On behalf of our state, we honor him for his service and selflessness."

Services for Kaltenberg will be held on Saturday in Verona.

Under the U.S. Flag Code, the U.S. and respective state flags fly at half-staff when the country or state is in mourning. The president may issue a national decree, or the state governor through an executive order, to have the flags lowered at half-staff.

The decree usually marks the death of a government official, military member or first responder; in honor of Memorial Day or other national days of remembrance; or following a national tragedy.

In Wisconsin, all state-owned and operated facilities must display their flags at half-staff. Municipal and county governments, public and private schools, private businesses, and individuals should also lower their flags to half-staff under the governor's executive order.

Executive orders will call for the flags to be lowered immediately or at sunrise on the day of remembrance until sunset, or for the entire mourning period.

Half-mast refers to flags lowered on a ship while half-staff refers to a pole in the ground, according to the Naval History and Heritage Command’s blog. Half-staff is the preferred form of reference in presidential decrees while half-mast is used outside of the U.S.

More:A Marine from Madison and two others were found dead in a car in North Carolina. Here's what we know.