All Star Flags All Star Flags - Part 75

American Flags and New Mexico Flags to fly at half-staff Monday, October 10th through Tuesday, October 11th in New Mexico in honor of of USMC Sergeant Christopher Diaz.

According to the office of the governor:
USMC Sergeant Christopher Diaz, age 27, was tragically killed during a Special Operations combat mission in Afghanistan on September 27, 2011. He was raised in Albuquerque, where he was a 2003 graduate of La Cueva High School and was an honored member of the school’s ROTC program. Sgt. Diaz served with Headquarters Battalion, Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center, based at Twentynine Palms, California.

American Flags and Wisconsin Flags to fly at half-staff Saturday, October 8th in the state of Wisconsin in honor of Army Sergeant Jakob J. Roelli.

According to the office of the governor:
Sergeant Jakob J. Roelli, a member of the 2nd Battalion, 34th Armor Regiment, 1st Heavy Brigade Combat Team, 1st Infantry Division, Fort Riley, Kansas, died while serving his country in Afghanistan.

American Flags and South Dakota Flags to fly at half-staff Sunday, October 9th in the state of South Dakota in honor of William Waldner and Jacob Waldner. Both men were firefighters who recently died in a blaze near Britton.

American Flags and Alabama Flags to fly at half-staff in the state of Alabama in honor of Rev. Fred Shuttlesworth.

According to the office of the governor:
Rev. Shuttlesworth was instrumental in the Birmingham integration efforts in the 1950’s and 1960’s that helped spark the national civil rights movement. Flags will remain at half-staff until sunset on the day of Shuttlesworth’s interment.

This Monday, October 10th, is Columbus Day, and whether or not you are a fan of Christopher Columbus you may be interested to know more about one of our favorite topics: his flags! Columbus’ fleet of three ships, the Niña, Pinta, and Santa Maria, made its infamous voyages flying some very interesting flags. Columbus, as admiral of the fleet, flew the royal standard (a white flag carrying a heraldic eagle) and his two captains flew the fleet’s ensign flag. The ensign flag consisted of a green maltese cross with an “F” and “Y” on either side. The old gothic letters were adorned with golden crowns for King Fernando of Aragon and Sicily and Ysabel, queen of Castile and Leon. To top things off, from Christopher Columbus’ ship, Santa Maria, flew a pennant as long as the mast bearing royal arms, a crucifix, and the words “Tanto Monta” meaning “One Is Equal to the Other,” the motto of Fernando and Ysabel.

*Images from Flags of the World

American Flags and Louisiana Flags to fly at half-staff Thursday, October 6th in the state of Louisiana in honor of Archbishop Philip M. Hannan.

According to the office of the governor:
Archbishop Hannan served as the 11th Archbishop of New Orleans, from 1965 to 1989, and upon retiring as archbishop at age 75, he became president of WLAETV, the public television station he founded. Archbishop Hannan was a Chaplain for the 82nd Airborne, where he earned the nickname “The Jumping Padre.” He risked his life to minister to wounded soldiers.

American Flags and North Dakota Flags to fly at half-staff Tuesday, October 4th in the state of North Dakota in honor of Burleigh County Sheriff’s Deputy Bryan Sleeper.

Deputy Sleeper was killed in the line of duty last week.

American Flags and Tennessee Flags to fly at half-staff Monday, October 3rd in the state of Tennessee in honor of Marine Lance Cpl. Franklin Watson.

American Flags and Wisconsin Flags to fly at half-staff Saturday, October 1st in the state of Wisconsin in honor of US Army Reserve Staff Sergeant Garrick L. Eppinger, Jr.

According to the office of the governor:
Staff Sergeant Garrick L. Eppinger, Jr., a member of the 395th Ordnance Company, 687th Combat Sustainment Support Brigade, 646th Regional Support Group, 310th Expeditionary Sustainment Command, Wausau, Wis., died while serving his country in Afghanistan.

American Flags and Oregon Flags to fly at half-staff Friday, September 30th in the state of Oregon in honor of Army Master Sergeant Danial Adams.

According to the office of the governor:
MSG Adams, 35, of Hillsboro, Oregon, died September 13 in Wardak province, Afghanistan, of wounds suffered when insurgents attacked his unit. He was assigned to the 1st Battalion, 10th Special Forces Group (Airborne) in Stuttgart, Germany.