Flags in Southborough and across the state are flying at half staff today for three reasons.
One is in honor of Martin Luther King, Jr. on the 50th anniversary of his tragic assassination.
A second was called to my attention by a comment below from VFW Post Commander Steve Whynot:
I’d like to also mention the flags are also lowered today – to honor Capt. Thomas Hudner, USN, Medal of Honor Recipient, who passed away last November. Capt. Hudner will be laid to rest at Arlington National Cemetery today. He earned his MOH for his unselfish attempt to rescue his wingman Ensign Jesse Brown – the first African-American Naval Aviator who was shot down during the Korean War. Fitting that Capt. Hudner will be laid to rest on the day Marin Luther King is remembered.
An announcement sent by the State House writes about Captain Hudner and the third person being honored, service member Ensign Evan Mark Scollard:
CAPTAIN THOMAS J. HUDNER, Jr.
Please be advised that Massachusetts Governor Charlie Baker has ordered that the United States flag and the Commonwealth flag be lowered to half-staff at all state buildings from sunrise until sunset on Wednesday, April 4, 2018, the day of interment, in honor of Captain Thomas J. Hudner, Jr., USN (Ret), Recipient of the Congressional Medal of Honor – Korean War., native of Fall River, Massachusetts and former resident of Concord, Massachusetts. Captain Hudner passed away on November 13, 2017 and will be laid to rest in Arlington National Ceremony on April 4, 2018.
ENSIGN EVAN MARK SCOLLARD
Please be advised that Massachusetts Governor Charlie Baker has ordered that the United States flag and the Commonwealth flag be lowered to half-staff at all state buildings beginning from sunrise until sunset on Wednesday, April 4, 2018, the day of interment, in honor Ensign Evan Mark Scollard, USN, resident of Lynnfield, Massachusetts, who passed away on March 24, 2018 in San Diego, CA.
Updated (4/4/18 12:02 pm): A comment from Commander Whynot led me to realize there was a second notice from the state house with two more people being honored through the lowering of flags today.
(photo from Susan Fitzgerald)
I’d like to also mention the flags are also lowered today – to honor Capt. Thomas Hudner, USN, Medal of Honor Recipient, who passed away last November. Capt. Hudner will be laid to rest at Arlington National Cemetery today. He earned his MOH for his unselfish attempt to rescue his wingman Ensign Jesse Brown – the first African-American Naval Aviator who was shot down during the Korean War. Fitting that Capt. Hudner will be laid to rest on the day Marin Luther King is remembered.
Thank you for sharing that news. I’ll update the post.