Gov issues guidelines for honoring past or present govt officials upon their death

Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — In a May 18 Executive Order, Gov. Lemanu P. S. Mauga established guidelines by which the American Samoa Government shall give official recognition following the death of sitting and former officials of the territorial government.

These guidelines, according to the order, are by no means exhaustive and shall not preclude the authority of the Governor to order or proclaim honors for officials of the Territory not listed in the document.

The order outlined the guidelines of when the “National and Territorial flags shall be flown at half-staff” in accordance with referenced Constitutional and authorities. For example, flag flying half-staff in accordance with an order by the U.S President, as he proclaims from time to time.

In the event of the death of the Governor, the flags shall be flown at half-staff for a maximum of 20 days, to end at sunset on the day of interment, according to the order.

Furthermore, in the event of the death of the Lieutenant Governor, President of the Senate, Speaker of the House of Representatives, or Chief Justice of the High Court of American Samoa, flags shall be flown at half-staff for a maximum of five days, ending at sunset on the day of interment.

And in event of the death of a sitting Senator, Representative of the Fono, member of the Governor's cabinet, Associate Justice or District Court Judge, any former official or the head of a bureau or office who does not report either to the head of a cabinet department whose appointment is subject to confirmation by the Legislature, the flags shall be lowered beginning at sunrise on the day before interment until sunset on the day of interment.

The governor’s order also sets rules and guidelines of the flags that may be used to drape the coffins of ASG officials.

For any sitting or former Governor, Lt. Governor, Speaker of the House, President of the Senate or Chief Justice, the U.S. flag or the Territorial flag may be used to drape the coffin in accordance with standard protocol for proper display of the U.S. flag, and with established protocol for proper display of the Territorial flag, as set forth in the Fai'ivae Apelu Galea'i Flag Protocol — Executive Order of 2007.

“Immediately before burial of the deceased, the National flag shall be presented in an appropriate and respectful manner to the deceased's spouse or next of kin with formal conclusion of the presentation upon the last note of Taps,” the order explained.

For all other sitting ASG officials — including department directors, office and bureau heads, district governors, associate justices, Samoan judges, district court judge sworn law enforcement and public safety officers of the Territory, the Territorial flag may be used to drape the coffin of the deceased official in accordance with established protocol for proper display of the Territorial flag, as set forth in the Fai'ivae Apelu Galea'i Flag Protocol - Executive Order 2007.

Immediately before burial, the Territorial flag shall be presented in an appropriate manner to the deceased's spouse or next of kin with full gun salute. Formal conclusion of the presentation shall be upon the last note of Taps.

The “Suppression” provision of the governor’s directive states that in all cases where sections of this Order do not comport with applicable federal statutes and regulations, the federal statutes and regulations shall control.

Such a result shall only apply to those sections of this Order that are in conflict with said statutes and regulations. All other sections of this Order that are not in conflict with applicable federal and local statutes and regulations shall be given full force and effect.

And the governor’s May 2023 order supersedes and effectively repeals Executive Order 001-2008 and all other previous Executive Orders and General Memoranda regarding this specific subject matter.