Saint Paul -- Governor Tim Pawlenty today ordered that the United States flag and the State of Minnesota flag be flown at half-staff at the State Capitol from sunrise until sunset on Tuesday , March 1, 2005, in honor and remembrance of 1st Lt. Jason Timmerman, who was killed in action in Iraq last week.

Funeral services for 1st Lt. Timmerman will be held in Marshall this afternoon.

The following is the text of the Governor's official proclamation:

Whereas: Lt. Jason Gary Timmerman was born in 1980 to Gary and Patricia Timmerman; and

Whereas: Lt. Jason Gary Timmerman graduated from Lakeview High School in Cottonwood, Minnesota, and went on to pursue a Bachelors of Science in Education and a Masters of Science in Computer Education Technology at Dakota State University in Madison, South Dakota; and

Whereas: Lt. Jason Gary Timmerman joined the Minnesota National Guard in 1997, the year before he graduated from high school. He was assigned to C Company, 1st Battalion -- 151st Field Artillery Regiment from the Western Minnesota towns of Morris, Ortonville, Appleton, Madison, and Montevideo. 330 soldiers from the 1st Battalion, 151st Field Artillery, including Lt. Timmerman, were deployed in October 2004 in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom; and

Whereas: Lt. Jason Gary Timmerman died a hero in Baghdad, Iraq, on Monday, February 21, 2005, while serving his country and fighting for freedom; and

Whereas: Lt. Jason Gary Timmerman will be remembered for his love, his laughter, and a sense of adventure in bringing joy to all those around him; and

Whereas: Lt. Jason Gary Timmerman is survived by his wife, Teresa; parents, Gary and Pat; brothers, Eric, Craig and Travis; grandparents, Andrew and Mary Timmerman and Anna Verly; his in-laws, Wes, Carol and Karen Hildebrand, and many other relatives and friends; and

Whereas: The funeral service for Lt. Jason Gary Timmerman will be held Tuesday, March 1, 2005, at Holy Redeemer Catholic Church in Marshall, Minnesota; and

Whereas: The State of Minnesota thanks the family of Lt. Jason Gary Timmerman for his dedicated service to the people of this country and want the family to know that our thoughts and prayers are with them.

Now, Therefore, I, Tim Pawlenty, Governor of Minnesota, do hereby order all U.S. flags and Minnesota flags be flown at half-staff at the Capitol Complex, including state buildings, monuments and grounds in proximity to and including the Minnesota State Capitol, from sunrise until sunset on Tuesday, March 1, 2005, in honor and remembrance of Lt. Jason Gary Timmerman.