Governor Terry Branstad today (Thursday) ordered all flags in the state to be flown at half-staff on Friday, April 27h, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. in honor of Sgt. 1^st Class Edris “Eddie” A. Viers.

SFC Edris Viers

Sgt. Viers was last seen Aug. 12, 1950, during the “Battle of Bloody Gulch” near Pongam-ni, South Korea, and was officially pronounced deceased on Dec. 31, 1953, but remains were not recovered at the time.

The governor’s directive applies to all U.S. and state flags under the control of the state. H.R. 692, signed in 2007, requires federal government agencies in the state to comply with the governor’s executive order that the U.S. flag be flown at half-staff in the event of the death of a member of the Armed Forces.

Flags will be at half-staff on the state Capitol building and on flag displays in the Capitol complex, and upon all public buildings, grounds, and facilities throughout the state. Individuals, businesses, schools, municipalities, counties and other government subdivisions are encouraged to fly the flag at half-staff for the same length of time as a sign of respect.