American flags are flying at half-staff today, Friday, Aug. 14, in several states including Virginia, Connecticut, Utah, Oregon and Massachusetts, where governors have issued flag orders to honor fallen law enforcement officers, public servants and members of the military.
In Virginia, Gov. Abigail Spanberger ordered flags fly half-staff at Virginia state and local buildings and grounds — the United States flag and Virginia flag — in memory of Appomattox County Deputy Burlie W. Duvall III, who died Aug. 6 in the line of duty while assisting at the scene of a multi-vehicle crash.
The flag order comes ahead of an Aug. 15 memorial service for Duvall, a 33-year-old husband and father of three. Authorities say Duvall and another deputy were returning home from the Central Virginia Criminal Justice Academy on Aug. 6 when they stopped to help at a chain-reaction crash on U.S. Route 460 in Campbell County. While assisting at the scene, Duvall was struck and killed by a tractor-trailer.
Flags are flying half-staff — not half-mast — in Virginia, Connecticut, Utah, Oregon and Massachusetts to honor to honor fallen law enforcement officers, firefighters, military veterans and public officials.
Flags flying half-staff in Virginia today, Aug. 14, are honoring Appomattox County Deputy Burlie W. Duvall III, who died at the age of 33 when he was struck and killed while assisting at a crash.
The difference between a flag flying half-mast and half-staff depends on where the flag is being flown. In America, flags flown on land are from staffs, while half-mast refers to flags flown from ships and at naval stations ashore.
Virginia Gov. Abigail Spanberger ordered U.S. and Virginia flags fly at half-staff from sunrise to sunset Friday, Aug. 14.
Deputy Burlie W. Duvall III was a 33-year-old deputy with the Appomattox County Sheriff's Office who lived in Concord, Virginia. He is survived by his wife, Jennifer, and their three children, BJ, Zane and Adi.
Duvall died Aug. 6 while assisting at the scene of a multi-vehicle crash in Campbell County. Spanberger called him a devoted father, husband and public servant whose sacrifice "will never be forgotten."
A memorial service will be held Aug. 15 at Thomas Road Baptist Church, according to his obituary. A funeral service and burial will follow in Maryland.
Lori Comstock is a New Jersey-based reporter covering trending news with USA TODAY Network's Mid-Atlantic Connect Team. She covers news in the Northeast, including New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware, Washington DC, Maryland, and Virginia. Reach her at [email protected].
This article originally appeared on Delaware News Journal: Why are flags at half-staff today? Why they'll stay lowered in VA