In honor and remembrance of Captain Darrell John Spinler, 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 Saturday, June 18, 2011.

Minnesota native Captain Spinler was killed in action on June 21, 1967, while serving the United States Air Force in the Vietnam War. He had been deployed to Vietnam in 1966, assigned to the 1st Air Commando Squadron at Pleiku Air Force Base. He died on June 21, 1967, when the A1E aircraft he was piloting was shot down during a bombing raid in Laos, along the Xe Kong River, where his remains could not be found at that time. Captain Spinler's remains were recovered on November 17, 2010, and identified on January 5, 2011. He will be honored with a burial with full military honors on Saturday, June 18, 2011, in Browns Valley, 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. Governor Dayton has chosen to extend this same honor to all of Minnesota's fallen soldiers, including those who are returned to their families long after their service.

/governor/assets/Captain-Darrell-John-Spinler.pdf_tcm1055-91821.pdfA copy of the proclamation is attached.