U.S. Flags to half-staff, 7/13-15

An emailed notification was sent out today with the following directive from Gov. Pat Quinn:

"United States and Illinois flags at half-staff from Sunrise, Tuesday, July 13, 2010 until Sunset, Thursday, July 15, 2010.

"The Department of Central Management Services has received notice from Governor Quinn’s Office that all persons or entities covered by the Illinois Flag Display Act are to fly the flags at half-staff from Sunrise, Tuesday, July 13, 2010 until Sunset, Thursday, July 15, 2010."

U.S. and Illinois flags are to be lowered to half-staff on behalf of the late Chicago Police Officer Thor Soderberg, 43, who died Wednesday, July 7, after being shot with his own weapon in police facility parking lot.

ABC Chicago news carried the following statement of Jennifer Loudon, Officer Soderberg's widow. She said, "I am terribly devastated. I know many of you want to help. Here is what you can do. If you have the opportunity to do something and change someone's life for the better, do it.

"Start by taking care of every child. Thor and I knew that each young person needs five important adults and one strong adult to provide a positive influence in their lives. In his honor, please use a kind word, a smile - as much as you can give to help someone in need. Every one of us can do a tremendous amount of good to impact a child, even one that isn't ours.

"It was critically important to Thor and I that we were 'that' person for other children, including many from the Englewood community."

Officer Soderberg's family has chosen private funeral services, rather than the traditional honors funeral.