Pence directs flags to half-staff to honor slain servicemen

INDIANAPOLIS (AP) – Indiana Gov. Mike Pence has directed that flags be lowered to half-staff at all state facilities to honor the five service members slain last week in Tennessee.

Pence declared a period of mourning Tuesday for the slain servicemen and directed that flags be lowered to half-staff for one week at all state properties, until sunset on July 28.

The governor also is asking Indiana businesses and residents to lower their flags to pay tribute to the Navy sailor and four Marines killed in last Thursday’s shootings at two military facilities in Chattanooga, Tennessee.

The suspected gunman was killed in a shootout with police at the Marine-Navy facility where the servicemen were killed.