A week before Memorial Day, legislation honoring the sacrifice of Capt. Reid Nannen of Hopedale unanimously passed the Senate. Marine Captain Nannen tragically perished during a March 2014 training exercise in Nevada.
Captain Nannen’s passing spurred lawmakers to tweak a 2007 law, which requires the Governor’s office to issue a proclamation ordering flags at state facilities to be flown at half-mast to recognize fallen service personnel.
House Bill 2932, co-sponsored in the Senate by Sen. Bill Brady(R-Bloomington) and Sen. Darin LaHood(R-Peoria), makes a minor change in the Illinois Flag Display Act that simplifies the process to honor fallen military members. The legislation, sponsored in the House of Representatives by Representative Keith Sommer, unanimously passed the House last month.
House Bill 2932 amends the Illinois Flag Display Act to fly the United States national flag, the Illinois State flag, and the appropriate military flag at half-staff upon the death of an Illinois resident killed during on-duty training for active military duty.
The current Flag Display Act requires flags at half-staff upon the notification of deaths of fallen combat service personnel, law enforcement officer, and firefighter or emergency service personnel for the resident's funeral and the two days preceding that day.
Senator Brady said,"Today I had the great honor of co-sponsoring this legislation in the Senate with my colleague, Darin LaHood. I was honored and humbled to have Captain Nannen's family here at the Capitol for today's vote. Those who selflessly serve our country to protect our freedoms will always deserve our eternal admiration and respect."
The legislation now heads to Governor Rauner's desk for his signature, after which it will become law.