LANSING, Mich. — Gov. Gretchen Whitmer has ordered Michigan and U.S. flags on public grounds to be lowered at half-staff in honor of Army Master Sgt. Jeffrey Saum.
“Our state mourns the loss of Army Master Sergeant Jeffrey Saum as he is laid to rest today,” says Governor Whitmer. “The flags will be lowered to honor his life and signal our gratitude for his selfless service to our state and nation in the United States Army.”
The order was issued this afternoon to occur simultaneously with Master Sgt. Saum’s funeral.
We’re told Master Sgt. Jeffrey Saum grew up in Big Rapids and enlisted in the U.S. Army after graduating from high school in 2006. He reportedly assisted in Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation New Dawn, Operation Enduring Freedom, Operation Atlantic Resolve and acted in support of the Special Operations Joint Task Force and CENTCOM Commanders Counter Terrorism Crisis Response Force to Iraq.
Saum was 33 years old.
The governor says flags should be raised to full-staff Jan. 10.
