Flags to fly at half-staff Tuesday in honor of Buckles

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. -- The U.S. and Missouri flags at state buildings in all 114 counties and the City of St. Louis will be flown at half-staff on Tuesday, the day when Frank W. Buckles will be buried at Arlington National Cemetery. Mr. Buckles, who was born in Bethany in Harrison County and also lived as a child in Vernon County, was the last surviving American veteran of the First World War. He passed away on Feb. 27 at the age of 110.

On March 1, Nixon ordered that the flags statewide be lowered on the date of Buckles' interment to honor his military service. The governor's order also decreed that the flags at state buildings in Harrison and Vernon counties, and at the National World War I Museum in Kansas City, be flown at half-staff from March 2 to March 8.

"The generation that served the United States during The Great War -- 4.7 million strong -- has now passed, and with its passing, an important chapter in American history comes to a close," Gov. Nixon said. "We honor the military service of Frank Buckles and his fellow 'doughboys' on behalf of our country. Like all veterans of our military, they put service before self."