Governor Tim Pawlenty today ordered that all U.S. and Minnesota flags be flown at half-staff at the Capitol Complex, including state buildings, monuments and grounds in proximity to and including the Minnesota State Capitol, from sunrise until sunset, on Friday, August 19, 2005, in honor and remembrance of Sergeant Michael A. Benson.

The following is the text of the Governor's official proclamation:

WHEREAS: Army Sgt. 1st Class Michael A. Benson was born to Bernard and Norma (Russell) Benson on May 15, 1965, in Winona, Minnesota; and

WHEREAS: Army Sgt. 1st Class Michael A. Benson joined the U.S. Army in December of 1985 and trained to be an infantryman. He was a member of the 2nd Brigade, 78th Division (Training Support) deployed to Iraq in March as part of a Special Police Transition Team to train an Iraqi Public Order Division and its subordinate brigades and battalions to take over security operations in support of the burgeoning Iraqi government. The 2nd Brigade, 78th Division is an Army Reserve Unit comprised of Army reserve and active duty soldiers with the mission of training Reserve Component Soldiers and Units.  Sgt. 1st Class Benson was an 11 Bravo Infantryman, assigned to the 1st Battalion, 314th Infantry Regiment based at Fort Drum, New York; and

WHEREAS: On October 29, 1997, Army Sgt. 1st Class Michael A. Benson was united in marriage to the love of his life, Elizabeth Brown; and

WHEREAS: Army Sgt. 1st Class Michael A. Benson was committed to serving his country and did so honorably for over nineteen years; and

WHEREAS: Army Sgt. 1st Class Michael A. Benson died a hero on Wednesday, August 10, 2005, at National Naval Medical Center in Bethesda, Maryland, with his loving family by his side, from wounds sustained during an improvised explosive attack in Baghdad, Iraq, on August 2, 2005, while protecting his country and fighting for freedom; and

WHEREAS: Army Sgt. 1st Class Michael A. Benson is survived by his beloved wife, Elizabeth; mother Norma Benson; brothers, David (Gena) Benson, Richard Benson, and Robert Benson; father-in-law and mother-in-law, Neale and Beverly Brown, sisters-in-law, Paula Pahnke, Sarah Malusky (Aaron), Christine (Brian) Hazard, Rebecca Brown; brother-in-law, Harvey Brown (Terry Moy-Brown); aunts, uncles, cousins, many nieces and nephews and many other family and friends who loved him and will miss him dearly. He is predeceased by his father, Bernard; and

WHEREAS: A funeral service for Army Sgt. 1st Class Michael A. Benson, with full military honors,  will be held Friday, August 19, 2005, at the Church of the Rock, St. Albans, Vermont; the interment will follow the funeral at Belvidere Cemetery in Belvidere, Vermont; and

WHEREAS: The State of Minnesota thanks the family of Army Sgt. 1st Class Michael A. Benson for his dedicated service to the people of this country and wants the family to know that our thoughts and prayers are with them.

NOW, THEREFORE, I, TIM PAWLENTY, Governor of Minnesota, do hereby order all U.S. and Minnesota flags be flown at half-staff at the Capitol Complex, including state buildings, monuments and grounds in proximity to and including the Minnesota State Capitol, from sunrise until sunset, on Friday, August 19, 2005, in honor and remembrance of Army Sgt. 1st Class Michael A. Benson.