In honor of firefighters who have been killed or disabled in the line of duty, Gov. Mark Dayton has ordered all United States flags and Minnesota flags be flown at half-staff at all state and federal buildings in Minnesota from sunrise until sunset Sunday.

On Oct. 16, 2001, President George W. Bush signed legislation requiring United States flags be lowered to half-staff on all federal buildings to memorialize fallen firefighters. Minnesota Senate File 237 was unanimously passed by the Legislature and signed into law May 15, 2009, creating Minnesota Fallen Firefighters Memorial Day.

The Minnesota State Fire Chiefs Association, the Minnesota State Fire Department Association and the Minnesota Professional Fire Fighters support the act of recognition and believe it honors their goal of bringing every firefighter home safely at the end of every shift.