Monday, November 16, 2015
OKLAHOMA CITY – Governor Mary Fallin today ordered that all American and Oklahoma flags on state property be flown at half-staff in memory of those killed and injured during the terror attacks in Paris.
The flags are to remain flying at half-staff through 5 p.m. Thursday, according to the governor’s order. Friday night's mass killings in Paris left at least 129 people dead and injured about 350 others. The Islamic State group claimed responsibility for the coordinated assault by gunmen and bombers.
Fallin had earlier ordered that American and Oklahoma flags be flown at half-staff Wednesday to honor Master Sgt. Joshua L Wheeler, who was killed last month while on active duty in Iraq. His burial will be Wednesday at Arlington National Cemetery.
Wheeler, who grew up in Roland, was identified as the first American soldier to die in combat against the Islamic State group in Iraq and applauded as a hero by Defense Secretary Ash Carter. Wheeler, 39, a 20-year Army veteran, was killed when he and dozens of U.S. special operations troops and Iraqi forces raided a compound near the city of Kirkuk, freeing approximately 70 Iraqi prisoners from captivity.