City officials say they haven't received governor's order allowing flags to be lowered to half-staff in honor of Helena soldier's death

Five days after the combat death of a Helena soldier, flags across the city were still flying high on Monday, even though the governor's office said in July it would order flags to fly half-staff when a member of the state's armed forces was killed on active duty.

Spec. Donald Young, 19, who died in Baghdad last Wednesday, was the fifth Helena soldier killed in the war and the 20th from Montana.

Still, on Monday, most flags across the city were at full-staff, including the more prominent flags over Memorial Park, the City-County Building, the Old Glory landmark and the Capitol.

The American Legion and the city of Helena both said the flags couldn't be lowered to half-staff in Young's honor until the governor gave the order.

While the governor's office said the order was given last week, neither the city or the American Legion have seen it.

"We have to get a declaration," said Gary White of the American Legion. "Until we get that from the state, we can't lower the flag."

Last Friday, Adam Pimley, deputy communications director for Gov. Brian Schweitzer, said the governor had given the order to lower flags in Young's honor late Wednesday evening.

"He ordered the flags down yesterday," Pimley said.

In June, the U.S. House of Representatives signed an act changing the nation's flag code. The amendment allows the governor of a state to order the nation's flag to half-staff after the death of a member of the armed forces of that state, who dies while serving on active duty.

Schweitzer last gave the order to lower the state's flag to half-staff on July 18, four days after the death of Capt. John Troyer, who died on his motorcycle coming home from the Army Guard in Helena after being struck by a vehicle.

"When it happens nationally, we get an e-mail from the White House," said White. "Statewide, however, I don't think they've got the notification process worked out well yet."

White said he typically has to call the governor's office to find out if such an order had been given. He added that flag etiquette won't allow flags to be lowered to half-staff without a proclamation to do so.

"The governor makes that proclamation," White said. "We're not going to do that until we get an actual proclamation."

The Montana Army National Guard said Young's body will arrive in Helena today at 11 a.m. The funeral service is scheduled for Saturday at Retz Funeral Home with graveside services at the Forestvale Cemetery.