White House flag lowered to half-staff in honor of service members killed in Chattanooga pic.twitter.com/qPtA4WBdCS
— NBC Nightly News (@NBCNightlyNews) July 21, 2015
Coming on the heels of the Capitol lowering its flags and pressure from lawmakers and presidential candidates, President Obama issued a proclamation today lowering flags in honor of those murdered in Chattanooga on Thursday.
The four Marines killed by Mohammod Youssuf Abdulazeez were Staff Sgt. David A. Wyatt of Burke, N.C.; Gunnery Sgt. Thomas Sullivan of Hampden, Mass.; Lance Cpl. Skip Wells of Cobb Ga.; and Sgt. Carson Holmquist of Polk, Wis. Navy Petty Officer 2nd Class Randall Smith died from his wounds Sunday.
“Our thoughts and prayers as a Nation are with the service members killed last week in Chattanooga. We honor their service. We offer our gratitude to the police officers and first responders who stopped the rampage and saved lives. We draw strength from yet another American community that has come together with an unmistakable message to those who would try and do us harm: We do not give in to fear. You cannot divide us. And you will not change our way of life,” Obama said in the proclamation.
“We ask God to watch over the fallen, the families, and their communities. As a mark of respect for the victims of the senseless acts of violence perpetrated on July 16, 2015, in Chattanooga, Tennessee, by the authority vested in me as President of the United States by the Constitution and the laws of the United States of America, I hereby order that the flag of the United States shall be flown at half-staff at the White House and upon all public buildings and grounds, at all military posts and naval stations, and on all naval vessels of the Federal Government in the District of Columbia and throughout the United States and its Territories and possessions until sunset, July 25, 2015. I also direct that the flag shall be flown at half-staff for the same length of time at all United States embassies, legations, consular offices, and other facilities abroad, including all military facilities and naval vessels and stations.”
The announcement came as Obama was addressing the VFW convention in Philadelphia today, a speech largely focused on the Iran deal and VA mismanagement.
Obama today goes to New York for an appearance on The Daily Show and a DSCC fundraiser.
More: New Developments in Chattanooga Terror Attack as Killer’s Family, Media Push ‘Loon Wolf’ Narrative
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