flags half-staff – Wisconsin Governor Tony Evers signed two executive orders directing U.S. and Wisconsin flags to be flown at half-staff this weekend: one honoring emergency medical services (EMS) professionals on Saturday, May 23, and another doing the same on Memorial Day, Mo
MADISON, Wis.—The weekend calendar in Wisconsin now carries a different kind of silence.
Governor Tony Evers signed two executive orders on Friday that will bring flags on both the state and federal levels to half-staff. The first order. Executive Order #295. directs flags of the United States and the state of Wisconsin to be flown at half-staff on Saturday. May 23. honoring emergency medical services (EMS) professionals who have given their lives in the line of duty.
Evers also proclaimed National EMS Week throughout the state of Wisconsin beginning Sunday, May 17 and lasting through Saturday, May 23. In his remarks, he spoke directly to the daily trust Wisconsinites place in EMS crews.
“No matter the ZIP code or the emergency, Wisconsinites count on our EMS professionals to be there when we need them most, and the health and safety of our kids, families, and communities depend on their invaluable service,” Evers said.
“We know this work is difficult and dangerous, and during National EMS Week, we recognize all of those who make these daily sacrifices while honoring those who have made the ultimate sacrifice serving their fellow Wisconsinites and neighbors.”
Executive Order #295 will run from sunrise to sunset on Saturday, May 23.
The second order, Executive Order #296, extends the half-staff observance into Memorial Day. It orders the flags of the United States and the state of Wisconsin to be flown at half-staff on Memorial Day. honoring and remembering the nation’s fallen heroes. along with the family members and loved ones they left behind.
“Memorial Day marks a tradition that has been part of our nation’s history for more than 150 years, and today, we pay tribute to the selfless service members who have given their lives in the line of duty to defend and protect the freedoms, principles, and values we hold dear,” Evers said.
“From soldiers and sailors to marines and airmen. our service members exemplify great courage. selflessness. dedication. and determination. and those who sacrificed their lives for this country will forever be heroes. Today. we join the loved ones. friends. and colleagues of our fallen service members in mourning their loss and sharing our deepest condolences and gratitude for their loved ones’ service.”.
Executive Order #296 will be in effect from sunrise to 12 p.m., as is customary, on Monday, May 25.
Taken together, the orders mark two moments of public remembrance on the same stretch of the calendar—one focused on EMS professionals and the other on fallen service members—each carried through the same visible signal: flags lowered for the people who did not return.
Tony Evers Wisconsin flags half-staff executive order 295 EMS Week emergency medical services Memorial Day executive order 296 Memorial Day flags
Good. Half-staff for EMS too, that’s at least something.
I didn’t even know they did half-staff for EMS before. Seems like a nice gesture, but does it actually help them? Like funding wise or nah.
Wait so Memorial Day flags are half-staff AND also EMS Week? Confusing bc I thought Memorial Day was already half-staff for everyone, like automatically? Unless they mean different hours or something.
Honestly I’m glad they’re doing it but I saw somewhere else that it was only gonna be like one day? Then this says May 23 plus Memorial Day, so which is it, people been mixing it up on Facebook. Either way, EMS deserves it, my cousin drives an ambulance and it’s scary out there. Just wish the state would stop acting like flags fix everything.