In honor and remembrance of Master Sergeant Michael Charles Fastner, and Marine Lance Corporal Robert S. Greniger, Governor Mark Dayton has ordered all U.S. flags and Minnesota flags to be flown at half-staff at all state and federal buildings in the State of Minnesota, from sunrise until sunset on Friday, July 22, 2011.

/governor/assets/Master-Sergeant-Michael-Fastner.pdf_tcm1055-94539.pdfMaster Sergeant Michael Charles Fastner was born on November 16, 1919 and served in the United States Army in World War II and the Korean War, most recently a member of A Company, 1st Battalion, 9th Infantry Regiment, 2nd Infantry Division. He died a hero at thirty-one years of age on February 28, 1951, in Prisoner of War Camp #5 in Pyoktong, North Korea, after enemy forces attacked his unit in the vicinity of Kunu-Ri in late 1950. Master Sergeant Michael Charles Fastner's remains were recovered by the United States in 1993 and identified in September 2010. He will be honored with a Mass of Christian Burial on Friday, July 22, 2011 in Saint Paul, Minnesota.

/governor/assets/Lance-Corporal-Robert-Greniger.pdf_tcm1055-94241.pdfLance Corporal Robert S. Greniger, twenty-one years of age, was a resident of Greenfield, Minnesota, and a 2009 graduate of Rockford Area High School. He enlisted in the United States Marine Corps in November, 2009, and became a combat engineer assigned to the 2nd Combat Engineer Battalion, 2nd Marine Division, II Marine Expeditionary Force out of Camp Lejeune, North Carolina, and was deployed to Afghanistan on March 20, 2011. Lance Corporal Robert Greniger died a hero on Tuesday, July 12, 2011 in the Helmand Province of Afghanistan during combat operations and a celebration of his life will be held Friday, July 22, 2011, in Rockford, Minnesota.

At the direction of the Governor, Minnesota flies it's flags at half-staff following the death of Minnesota military personnel killed in the line of duty, on the day of interment, including those who are returned to their families long after their service.

The proclamations are attached.