Flag at half-staff at Town Hall, Town Common, marking death of Lindsey Graham

WESTFORD CENTER — The American flag at Westford Town Hall and Town Common were lowered to half-staff Monday, marking the death of U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham.

In a news release issued on Tuesday, the town said the move comes following an order from Gov. Maura Healey, which states that all state buildings across Massachusetts must lower the American flag and state flag to half-staff until 6 p.m. Saturday, in honor of the late senator.

Healey’s order not only applies to state buildings, but also includes the main or administrative building of each public institution in the state, including town and city halls. Other state-owned or state-controlled buildings and all state military installations are included in the order as well.

According to Massachusetts General Laws Chapter 2, Section 6A, the governor may order the state flag to be flown at half-staff at all town and city halls as well as other state-owned or state-controlled buildings and state military installations. The law also requires half-staff observances on certain occasions, including when the American flag is ordered to half-staff and following the deaths of specified public officials and military service members. 

The order comes following a presidential proclamation issued Monday by President Donald Trump. In the proclamation, Trump directed American flags be flown at half-staff at the White House, all public buildings and grounds, military posts, naval stations and federal naval vessels in Washington, D.C. and across the U.S. and its territories and possessions until 6 p.m. Saturday “as a mark of respect for the memory and longstanding service of Sen. Graham.”

Graham died on the evening of July 11, after suffering from what was described as “a brief and sudden illness”. His death occurred just a day after he returned from an official visit to Kyiv, Ukraine. Preliminary findings from medical examiners the following day found that Graham died from an aortic dissection caused by arteriosclerotic cardiovascular disease. This is caused when a tear develops in the inner layer of the aorta, the body’s largest artery, resulting in blood entering the tear and separating the layers of the aortic wall, creating a false channel.

A Republican who represented South Carolina in the U.S. Senate from 2003 until 2026, Graham was often vocal about issues including national security, judicial nominations and foreign policy. Before serving in the Senate, he served as an Air Force lawyer and six-term member of the U.S. House. Graham was known for his bipartisan work early in his Senate career, initially opposing Trump during his 2016 presidential campaign, before becoming one of his closest allies. Graham’s death marked the end of over three decades of his service i Nn Congress.

Following his death, Trump honored Graham on Truth Social, where he stated that Graham was “one of the greatest people and Senators I have ever known” and called him a “true American Patriot.”