To: Chet Culver, Governor of Iowa When everyday people of a nation sacrifice their lives for that nation, they deserve to be mourned and remembered. If we are to call ourselves a nation that prizes each human life equally, the death of anyone who makes this sacrifice should be shown no less regard than a head of state who dies in service to the nation. As of this day forty Iowans and more than three thousand Americans in our military have lost their lives in the war in Iraq, yet not one flag over any State of Iowa institution has been lowered in their honor. Fundamental human decency requires that these sacred and irreplaceable lives be remembered in the manner in which we as a people have always expressed our mourning for those who have given their lives for us. Their families deserve no less of our traditional public expression of sorrow and condolence than any other life lost in service to our nation. We are further obligated to show our grief because it is our national policies and decisions that have placed their lives in harm\'s way. We therefore petition you to exercise your publicly endowed authority to issue an executive order immediately that requires all American flags over all buildings receiving any State of Iowa funds to be lowered for a period of no fewer than thirty days to mourn anyone, military or civilian, whose life is lost as result of service to the U.S. Military or in any Military service or in any involvement with any Military conflict in which there is participation by these United States of America. We, the undersigned, on behalf of all Iowans, call upon you today to correct this shameful negligence.

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