New Mexico Governor Richardson Lowers Flags in Honor of Air Force Staff Sergeant Travis Griffin

April 15, 2008 -- SANTA FE – New Mexico Governor Bill Richardson ordered flags to fly at half-staff in honor of Air Force Staff Sergeant Travis Griffin, 28, who lost his life while serving his country in Baghdad, on Thursday, April 3, 2008.

Staff Sergeant Griffin was a native of Dover, Delaware. He had served in the Air Force for 9 years. Griffin was on his 4th deployment to Iraq and was expected to return in 15 days.

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Staff Sgt. Griffin was assigned to the 377th Security Forces Squadron at Kirtland Air Force Base in Albuquerque. He had been stationed at Kirtland since 2004 and is the second airmen from the base killed in Iraq since the war began.

Staff Sergeant Griffin is survived wife, Krista Griffin; his five year old son, Elijah Griffin; his mother Christine Herwick, his father Larry Griffin and his step-father Don Herwick.

In honor of Air Force Staff Sergeant Travis Griffin, Governor Richardson signed an Executive Order directing that flags be flown at half-staff from Wednesday, April 16, 2008 through sundown on Thursday, April 17, 2008.

Full text of the executive order follows:

EXECUTIVE ORDER 2008-016

FLAGS FLOWN AT HALF STAFF IN HONOR AND MOURNING OF STAFF SERGEANT TRAVIS GRIFFIN

WHEREAS, United States Air Force Staff Sergeant Travis Griffin, age 28, tragically lost his life while serving in Iraq, on Thursday, April 3, 2008;

WHEREAS, Staff Sergeant Griffin had been stationed at Kirtland Air Force Base since July 2004 and had been in the Air Force for almost nine years. He was deployed to Iraq in October, 2007 to help train Iraqi police forces in Baghdad. Staff Sergeant Griffin was assigned to the 377th Security Forces Squadron, Kirtland Air Force Base in Albuquerque, New Mexico;

WHEREAS, Staff Sergeant Griffin is survived by his mother Christine Herwick, his father Larry Griffin, Step-father Don Herwick, wife Krista Griffin and son Elijah Griffin;

and WHEREAS, Staff Sergeant Griffin’s patriotism, bravery, and dedication to the nation will always be remembered.

NOW, THEREFORE, I, Governor Bill Richardson, Governor of the State of New Mexico, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and the Laws of the State of New Mexico, do hereby order that all flags be flown at half-staff from Wednesday, April 16, 2008, until sundown on Thursday, April 17, 2008, in honor and mourning of United States Air Force Staff Sergeant Travis Griffin. The thoughts and prayers of the people of New Mexico go out to his family as well as a heartfelt thank you for his courageous service.

Source: New Mexico Governor