Va. flags to fly at half staff in memory of Hamas hostage Hersh Goldberg-Polin

Va. Gov. Glenn Youngkin issued the following order today, Sept. 1, 2024: “In accordance with the authority vested in me as Governor, I hereby order that the flags of the United States of America and the Commonwealth of Virginia be flown at half-staff on all state and local buildings and grounds in the Commonwealth of Virginia in memory and respect of Hersh Goldberg-Polin. His body was discovered on August 31st by Israeli forces in a tunnel beneath the Gaza city of Rafah after he was held hostage by Hamas terrorist following the attack on October 7th.

I hereby order that the flags shall be lowered at sunrise on Tuesday, September 3, 2024 and remain at half-staff until sunset.

Gov. Youngkin also issued the following statement regarding the murder of Hersh Goldberg-Polin. His body was discovered by Israeli forces in a tunnel beneath the Gaza city of Rafah after he was held hostage by Hamas terrorists following the attack on October 7, 2023:

“After 330 agonizing days since the brutal terrorist attack on Israel on October 7th that left more than 1,200 dead and hundreds more held hostage, Johnathan Polin and Rachel Goldberg woke up to unimaginable news that no parent should ever receive. Suzanne and I are angered and heartbroken by the death of Hersh Goldberg-Polin, a senseless murder at the hands of terrorists. Today, Virginians, Americans, and the world join the Goldberg-Polin family and the Keneseth Beth Israel Synagogue in prayer.”