President Obama has ordered all flags at half-staff at federal buildings nationwide in honor of the Tennessee shooting victims.
The flag was lowered at The White House on Tuesday afternoon. The move comes five days after last week's shooting rampage at two military facilities in Chattanooga that left a Navy sailor and four Marines dead.
The flags to remain lowered through Saturday “as a mark of respect for the victims of the senseless acts of violence perpetrated on July 16.”
“Our thoughts and prayers as a Nation are with the service members killed last week in Chattanooga. We honor their service. We offer our gratitude to the police officers and first responders who stopped the rampage and saved lives,” Obama said in a presidential proclamation.
Pressure was growing on the administration to make the symbolic move. There was also outcry on social media over the flags not being lowered.
Congressional leaders had ordered the flags at the U.S. Capitol lowered to half-staff Tuesday morning to honor the victims.
Separately, New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, who is running for president, and New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo also ordered all flags to be flown at half-staff at state government buildings.