MACON, Ga. — If you drive by a Georgia government building on Saturday, you may ask yourself, "Why are all the flags at half-staff?"
On Friday, Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp signed an executive order to have all flags outside of the State of Georgia buildings flown at half-staff on Monday, Nov. 30.
The order comes as a result of the death of Georgia's Commissioner of Labor, Bruce Thompson. He died on Sunday, Nov. 24 at 59-years-old.
Thompson served as the Commissioner of Labor for nearly two years, as he took office in Jan. 2023. Before that, he represented the 14th district in the Georgia State Senate from Dec. 2013 until he took office as the Commissioner of Labor.
Thompson was also a veteran who served for six years in the U.S Army National Guard as part of the Tank/Armored Division.
Kemp said in a post on X, formerly known as Twitter, that, "in honor of and as a mark of respect" for Thompson, all flags will fly at half-staff on Saturday.
"As Georgia's 10th Commissioner of Labor, Bruce Thompson used his work ethic, integrity and legislative experience to serve Georgia's workers and employers by leading an agency focused on transparency, responsiveness and fiscal responsibility," the post said. "It is fitting and proper to remember and honor Bruce Thompson's service to the State of Georgia by lowering flags on all State buildings and grounds to half staff."
Kemp has yet to name a successor for Thompson's position, but will eventually appoint one. The replacement will serve the rest of Thompson's four-year term, until 2027.