Governor orders flags to be lowered in honor of Lieutenant Colonel Michael Backus

Augusta, Maine - Governor Paul R. LePage today ordered that the United States flag and the State of Maine flag be flown at half-staff from sunrise on Friday, Jan. 11 to sunset on Sunday, Jan. 13 at all Maine National Guard facilities in honor of Lieutenant Colonel Michael Backus. In addition, Governor LePage ordered the United States flag and the State of Maine flag be flown at half-staff from sunrise to sunset on Sunday, Jan. 13 in the town of Farmington.

LTC Backus, 44-years old, was a Maine Army National Guard Active Guard and Reserve officer serving with the Joint Forces Headquarters. He died unexpectedly on Monday, Jan. 7, 2013, while performing his duties at Camp Keyes in Augusta. Backus, a graduate of Mt. Blue High School in 1986, and a 1990 graduate of the United States Military Academy at West Point, served his country in a number of different capacities of increasing responsibility throughout his 22-year career.

Public visitation will be held on Saturday, Jan. 12 from 3–6 p.m. at Wiles Funeral Home, 136 High Street in Wilton. The funeral will take place on Sunday, Jan. 13 at 1 p.m. at the University of Maine, Farmington in the South Dining Hall. The campus address is 111 South Street in Farmington. The internment will be held later in the spring in Wilton.

For more information about State of Maine flag etiquette, please visit http://www.maine.gov/governor/lepage/news/flag_etiquette.shtml.