LANSING, MI -- If you want to honor former Congressman Vern Ehlers, you can lower your U.S. and Michigan flags to half-staff Thursday, Aug. 24.
Gov. Rick Snyder ordered state and U.S. flags be lowered on all state buildings and within the state Capitol complex to memorialize Ehlers.
The former congressman from West Michigan died Tuesday, Aug. 15, at the age of 83. The Republican represented the Grand Rapids area's third congressional district from December 1993 through January 2011.
"Vern was a devoted public servant and represented the best of Michigan," Snyder said in a statement. "I send my deepest condolences to his family, friends and community during this time."
Prior to his more than 16-year political career, Ehlers was a nuclear physicist and professor at Calvin College in Grand Rapids.
Outside of his work in Congress, Ehlers served four terms on the Kent County Board of Commissions and 10 years in the Michigan Legislature.
As a public servant, Ehlers was known for a bipartison work ethic in his sponsorship of the Great Lakes Legacy Act and for leading the effort to improve U.S. competitiveness through the passage of the America Competes Act.
A memorial service will be held at 3 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 24, at Eastern Avenue Christian Reformed Church, 514 Eastern Ave SE in Grand Rapids.
The governor's flag order is in accordance with Executive Order 2013-10. Michigan residents, businesses, schools, local governments and other organizations are encouraged to display the flag at half-staff Thursday. Flags should be returned to full staff on Friday, Aug. 25.
According to a news release from the governor's office, when flown at half-mast, the U.S. flag should first be raised to the top of a flag pole for an instant and then lowered to the hall-staff point.