South Carolina Gov. Henry McMaster ordered that flags atop the South Carolina State Capitol be lowered to half‑staff from sunrise until sunset on Aug. 5.
The lowering of the flags is to honor 29-year-old Master Deputy Jillian Olson of the Lexington County Sheriff's Department, who died on July 30, according to the governor's office.
"Our hearts are broken by the loss of a valuable member of the Sheriff's Department," Lexington County Sheriff Jay Koon stated in a release. "Jillian exemplified commitment and service. She faithfully carried out her duties and selflessly worked to make those around her better."
In a news release, the Lexington County Sheriff's Office states that Olsen was killed in an incident on Lake Murray during an underwater training exercise.
Olson was a member of the Lexington County Sheriff's Department for five years and was sworn in as a Lexington County Sheriff's Deputy on June 14, 2021, according to a news release and her obituary.
Services for Olson's are on Aug. 5, with a viewing at Pilgrim Lutheran Church at 1430 North Lake Drive, Lexington, from 9:30 to 10:30 a.m., followed by a funeral service at 10:30 a.m. Burial will take place later that day at St. Michael Lutheran Church Cemetery in Columbia, according to Olson's obituary.
According to USA.gov, the U.S. flag flies at half-staff or at half-mast when the nation or a state is in mourning.
The flag can be ordered to fly at half-staff by the president, a state governor or the mayor of the District of Columbia.
Here are the events that usually trigger it:
The death of a government official, military member, or first responder
Memorial Day or another national day of remembrance
A presidential order requires flags be flown at half-staff at the White House, all public buildings and grounds, at all military posts and naval stations and on all naval vessels in the United States and its territories. Flags at all United States embassies, legations, consular offices and other facilities abroad, including all military facilities and naval vessels and stations will also be flown at half-staff.
A state-issued flag change comes from the governor and flags at the state's capitol building and/ or all state/county run public facilities are lowered to half-staff.
On ships and at naval stations ashore, flags are flown at half-mast.
Elsewhere ashore, flags are flown at half-staff.
Travis Jacque Rose is the trending news reporter for the Greenville News, part of the USA TODAY Network. Reach him at [email protected].
This article originally appeared on Greenville News: Why are SC flags at half-staff? McMaster orders lowering on Aug. 5