DENVER (AP) — On nearly 90 percent of days last year, one or more states were flying the American flag at half-staff to memorialize the deaths of military members, public officials, police, first responders, prominent citizens, and victims of mass killings and disasters, The Associated Press found in analyzing information requested from all 50 states and the federal government. Instances of Colorado ordering the American flag flown at half-staff last year on at least some government property, separate from proclamations that came from the federal government:
—May 29: State Patrol Cadet Taylor Thyfault, hit by man fleeing unrelated traffic stop
—July 21: Denver firefighter John Whelan, died of injuries from warehouse fire
—Aug. 7: Breckenridge firefighter Todd “TJ” Johnson, died of brain cancer complications
—Oct. 16: North Metro firefighter Craig Moilanen, died of leukemia
—Oct. 26: Retired Maj. Gen. John L. France, longest-serving adjutant general of Colorado, one of the last Minute Men pilots
—Nov. 12: Springfield paramedic Rick Hartley, died in an ambulance crash
—Nov. 23: State Trooper Jaimie Jursevics, hit by a suspected drunken driver while on duty
—Nov. 28-Dec. 3: Victims of Planned Parenthood shooting in Colorado Springs
Gov. John Hickenlooper, who issues the statewide proclamations, says lowering the flag to half-staff helps Coloradans unite and demonstrates respect and mourning.
