He was awarded the Purple Heart after being shot by a sniper while defending our country, and rightly deserves the honor this Friday.

Governor Paul LePage has ordered that the State of Maine flag be flown at half-staff this Friday, Novermber 2nd, from sunrise to sunset, to honor U.S. Army veteran and Purple Heart recipient Sgt. Jack Stearns. Stearns, who recently passed away at the VA Maine Healthcare System in Togus.

Flags are to be flown at half-staff in Augusta only.

"Sgt. Stearns served with the U.S. Army Rangers during the Korean War from 1951 to 1954, and was awarded the Korean Service Medal with three Bronze Service Stars, the United Nations Service Medal, the National Defense Service Medal, and was awarded the Purple Heart after being shot by a sniper. He later worked as a pipefitter and was a member of UA Local 716 Plumbers and Pipefitters. He also served as a deputy for the Kennebec County Sheriff's Department for 15 years", according to a press release today from the Governor's office.

The release went on to say that Stearns was, "an active advocate for veterans throughout his life, Stearns was a member of the American Legion, Veterans of Foreign Wars, Military Order of the Purple Heart, the Grand Lodge of Masons, Shriners International and the Elks Lodge. He served on the Board of Directors for the Maine Veterans' Memorial Cemetery. In 2007, Stearns received the State of Maine Silver Star Honorable Service Medal."

 

 

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