President Obama’s order to fly flags at half-staff covers all federal buildings and grounds throughout the United States and its territories, as well as US embassies, military bases and other facilities abroad.
President Barack Obama has ordered all US flags on federal property to be flown at half-staff in memory of former Israeli President and Prime Minister Shimon Peres, who died Wednesday.
Obama’s order covers all federal buildings and grounds throughout the United States and its territories, as well as US embassies, military bases and other facilities abroad.
The order directs flags to be flown at half-staff through sunset Friday.
The White House announced Obama will lead a delegation to Jerusalem to attend Peres’ Friday funeral.
US Secretary of State John Kerry and Former President Bill Clinton will be attending as well.
Peres died Wednesday due to complications from a stroke. The former Israeli prime minister was 93.
Obama said in a statement that Peres had changed the course of human history by expanding the “moral imagination” and forcing people to expect more from themselves.
Peres’ son-in-law shared that his family had an emotional conversation with Obama.
Dr. Rafi Walden told reporters early Wednesday the family was “very moved.” Obama was a good friend of Peres and awarded the Israeli leader the presidential medal of freedom in 2012.
Walden, who was also Peres’ personal physician, says Peres died overnight “without suffering.”
By: AP