AUGUSTA — Gov. Paul LePage has ordered that U.S. and state of Maine flags be flown at half-staff at Maine National Guard facilities in honor of a longtime Army National Guard officer who died without warning this week at the age of 44.

Lt. Col. Michael Backus died Monday while performing regular duties at Camp Keyes in Augusta. The Medical Examiner’s Office says autopsy results are inconclusive pending further study.

LePage has ordered that flags be flown at half-staff from sunrise Friday to sunset Sunday.

Backus’ funeral is scheduled for Sunday at the University of Maine at Farmington.


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