In accordance to Public Law 107-51, flags are to be lowered annually in recognition of the many firefighters who have lost their lives in the line of duty.

The officers were members of a collaborative U.S. Marshals task force of local, state and federal law enforcement officers.

The Honorable John C. Martin served the state as a Superior Court Judge for seven years, as an appellate judge for the North Carolina Court of Appeals for more than 24 years, and spent the last 10 years of his career as Chief Judge of the Court of Appeals.

Lexington Fire Captain Ronnie Metcalf died on March 30 after sustaining injuries at a house fire earlier in the week.

Deputy Sheriff Johnson died in the line of duty on Tuesday, Feb. 6.