Gov. John Hickenlooper ordered flags lowered to half-staff on all public buildings statewide on Friday in memory of South Metro Firefighter Engineer Mike Freeman, who died peacefully at his home Sunday after battling cancer. Flags should be lowered from sunrise to sunset, the governor’s office said.

Freeman began his firefighting career in 1974 with the Cherry Hills Village Fire Department and later served for decades with South Metro Fire Rescue. His honors included being South Metro’s most senior active member, holding badge No. 74-1. The fire department is recognizing his passing as an Active Member Line of Duty Death, so badges worn by South Metro personnel will be shrouded.

South Metro will honor Freeman with a memorial service at 11 a.m. Friday at Denver First Church, 3800 E. Hampden Ave., in Cherry Hills Village.

Friday will be the eighth time this year Hickenlooper has ordered flags in Colorado lowered. The first occasion was on Feb. 22 in memory of former Lt. Gov. Mark Hogan, who died Feb. 12. On April 6, the governor ordered flags lowered in honor of John Glenn until the former senator and astronaut was interred. President Donald Trump ordered flags nationwide lowered for the same period to honor Glenn.

The governor ordered flags lowered on April 28 to honor Adams County Fire Rescue firefighter Brett Anderson. On May 4, the governor ordered flags flown at half-staff to honor former U.S. Rep. Ray Kogovsek, a Pueblo native and former state lawmaker. On May 15, the governor ordered flags lowered in recognition of Peace Officers Memorial Day, the start of the national observance of Police Week. On May 29, the governor ordered flags lowered in recognition of Memorial Day. The governor ordered flags lowered on June 9 in honor of Special Warfare Operator Petty Officer 1st Class Remington J. Peters, a Grand Junction native, who died May 28.

The governor’s office maintains a web page displaying the current flag status for the U.S. flag and the Colorado flag.