Governor Kehoe Orders Flags to Fly at Half-Staff in Honor of St. Louis Fire Department Firefighter Lee Kraus

JULY 7, 2025

Jefferson City — Today, in honor of St. Louis Fire Department Firefighter Lee M. Kraus, Governor Mike Kehoe ordered U.S. and Missouri flags be flown at half-staff at government buildings in the City of St. Louis, the Fire Fighters Memorial of Missouri in Kingdom City, and firehouses statewide on Wednesday, July 9, from sunrise to sunset.

“Lee Kraus committed his life to public service at age 22 and remained steadfast in that commitment for over three decades, no matter how dangerous the emergency or trying the circumstances,” Governor Kehoe said. “He began as an EMT and went on to serve 27 years as a firefighter—answering thousands of calls, from house fires to highway crashes. He will be remembered not only for his steadiness and professionalism with which he handled each call, but for the compassion he gave each person he served.”   

On July 1, Firefighter Kraus, 52, died in a hospital after suffering a medical emergency while on duty on June 29.

The flags will be held at half-staff on the day Firefighter Kraus is laid to rest. To view the Governor’s proclamation, click here.

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