Pennsylvania Governor Tom Corbett has ordered all Pennsylvania flags to fly at half-staff in honor of the passing of Joe Paterno. All flags at government buildings throughout the common wealth and other offices with Pennsylvania state flags will have their state flags flown in respect for Paterno, a Pennsylvania icon.
Paterno's passing on Sunday was somewhat expected with the 85-year old battling lung cancer. The life of Paterno was filled with plenty of charitable acts and he served as one of the best teachers in the state, in addition to becoming one of the iconic football coaches in the history of the game, deserving of mention in the same conversation as the names Vince Lombardi and Paul "Bear" Bryant. The past couple of months have left a stain on Paterno's legacy though, due to his link to the Jerry Sandusky child molestation charges.
The last time Pennsylvania flags were ordered to fly at half-staff for the entire state was October 28, 2011 in honor of World War II Airmen, Army Air Forces 2nd Lt. Thomas Digman Jr. of Pittsburgh and Staff Sergeant Joseph J. Karaso of Philadelphia. The order to fly a state flag at half-staff is usually reserved for servicemen and servicewomen, armed forces and political figures. It is also a rare decision to call for a state wide order to fly a flag at half-staff.
United States flags will still fly at the top of a flagpole.
Kevin McGuire is a national college football writer for Examiner.com and the host of the No 2-Minute Warning podcast. He can be reached at cfbexaminer@gmail.com.
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