Flags lowered to half-staff in Wisconsin Saturday for Army Sergeant Nickolas Mueller

Flags at Wisconsin National Guard armories, air bases and other facilities across the state will fly at half-staff Saturday, Nov.7, in honor of Army Sergeant Nickolas Mueller, Little Chute, who died Oct. 26 of injuries received when the MH-47 helicopter he was aboard crashed in Darreh-ye Bum, Afghanistan. The National Guard will render these honors in accordance with an executive order issued by Gov. Jim Doyle.

EXECUTIVE ORDER # 294 reads:

Relating to a Proclamation that the Flag of the United States and the Flag of the State of Wisconsin be Flown at Half-Staff as a Mark of Respect for Sergeant Nickolas Mueller of the United States Army Who Lost His Life While Serving his Country in Operation Enduring Freedom

WHEREAS, on October 26, 2009, Sergeant Nickolas Mueller, assigned to the 3rd Battalion, 160th Special Operations Regiment (Airborne), died of wounds suffered when the MH-47 helicopter he was aboard crashed in Darreh-ye Bum, Afghanistan; and

WHEREAS, Sergeant Nickolas Mueller provided faithful and honorable service to the people of the State of Wisconsin and the people of the United States; and WHEREAS, the people of Wisconsin mourn the death of Sergeant Nickolas Mueller; and

WHEREAS, a memorial service will be held for Sergeant Nickolas Mueller on Saturday, November 7, 2009;

NOW, THEREFORE, I, JIM DOYLE, Governor of the State of Wisconsin, by the authority vested in me by Federal and State law, do hereby order that the flag of the United States and the flag of the State of Wisconsin shall be flown at half-staff at all buildings, grounds and military installations of the State of Wisconsin equipped with such flags beginning at sunrise on November 7, 2009, and ending at sunset on that date.

All Wisconsin state government facilities are covered by the governor’s order and a 2007 amendment to the U.S. Flag Code now requires all federal facilities in Wisconsin to comply. Other government agencies, businesses and private residences with flagpoles may also honor Sergeant Nickolas Mueller by lowering their U.S. and Wisconsin state flags to half-staff during the daylight hours on Nov 7.