Gov. Terry E. Branstad today (Tuesday) ordered all flags in Iowa be flown at half-staff from 8 a.m. – 5 p.m. Thursday, August 1, 2013, in honor of Iowa native, retired Col. George “Bud” Day. Day’s funeral will be on Thursday, August 1st, in Shalimar, Florida and he will be buried at Barrancas National Cemetery at Pensacola Naval Air Station.

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.

Col. George “Bud” Day (IA Aviation Museum/photo)

Gov. Branstad said “Bud Day loved this country and its people, and we are all better off as a result of his service. Bud Day was a hero to all, a friend to many and will be an inspiration to generations in the future.” He said also “I hope all Iowans will join me in recognizing this man and his extraordinary, unique career and contributions to his country.”

While flying a combat mission over North Vietnam, Day was shot down Aug. 26, 1967, captured by the North Vietnamese Army and spent five and a half years as a prisoner of war. During his captivity in North Vietnam, Day and U.S. Sen. John McCain were cellmates at the Plantation and Hanoi Hilton prison camps. Day was released from captivity in March 1973 and retired from the U.S. Air Force in 1977.

Upon military retirement he moved to Florida, where he began a law practice that focused on advocating for veterans’ issues. Over the course of his 35-year military career, Day earned more than 70 awards for combat, including the nation’s highest award for valor, the Medal of Honor, for his actions in Vietnam. At the time of his death, Day was one of the nation’s most highly-decorated service members.