Governor Culver asked that flags be lowered to honor a fallen soldier this week.
The Associated Press covered the story:
Flags across Iowa are to be flown at half staff in honor of a Reinbeck soldier who died last week in Afghanistan.
Gov. Chet Culver ordered all flags in Iowa to be lowered on Saturday from 8 a.m. until sunset in honor of 53-year-old Command Sgt. Maj. John Laborde. Military officials say Laborde died April 22 of injuries suffered in a noncombat related incident. Laborde's funeral is scheduled for Saturday in Reinbeck and his burial is to be in Oelwein.
Laborde was assigned to the 649th Regional Support Group in Cedar Rapids.
Laborde's family is to later receive the United States flag flown over the Iowa State Capitol on the day of his funeral.