In remembrance of former State Senator Ben Espy, Governor Mike DeWine has directed that flags be lowered to half-staff across Franklin County and specific state buildings in Columbus. As stated on the Office of the Governor Mike DeWine's official website, this mark of respect will be observed from sunrise to sunset on January 13, 2025, the date of Espy's funeral.
The honor is afforded to the U.S. and Ohio state flags, which will be flown at half-staff at all public buildings and grounds within Franklin County, including the Ohio Statehouse, the Vern Riffe Center, and the Rhodes Tower, as the governor orders. Flying the flags at half-staff is a customary expression of mourning, albeit not necessarily revealing the measure of a public servant's impact.
While the declaration specifically requires this observance in Franklin County, Governor DeWine's decree grants permission for other public buildings across Ohio to lower their flags at their discretion during the same time frame. The gesture symbolizes lowering the community’s collective head in memory of a man who served within its legislative chambers.
Ben Espy, whose contributions to state legislation and the community are his lasting legacy, will be honored as such, his memory etched into the fabric of Ohio history. Additional details regarding Espy's funeral service have yet to be announced by his family, who are preparing for the upcoming day of remembrance, offering their final tributes to a figure much admired in his home state of Ohio.
