Governor Stein orders flags to half-staff for U.S. Army veteran Sean Michael Lee

Governor Josh Stein orders U.S. and North Carolina flags at state facilities to fly at half-staff on Tuesday, September 22, in honor of U.S. military veteran Sean Michael Lee. The order recognizes a veteran whose career included more than 20 years in the United States Army, multiple combat deployments to Iraq and Afghanistan, and later service supporting veterans and humanitarian efforts.

Lee served as a paratrooper with the 82nd Airborne Division at Fort Bragg and later helped coordinate the safe passage and evacuation of thousands of Afghan allies and others in 2021. He also helped establish field hospitals in 2022 and took part in the evacuation of gravely wounded Fox News correspondent Benjamin Hall from Ukraine. His service also included aid to communities affected by Hurricane Helene and work with the Independence Fund, which supports wounded, injured, and ill veterans and their families.

The flags are to remain at half-staff from sunrise to sunset on Tuesday, September 22. Funeral services for Sean Michael Lee are scheduled for 2 p.m. that day in Weddington, North Carolina. Individuals, businesses, schools, municipalities, counties, and other government subdivisions are encouraged to fly flags at half-staff for the same period.