Arizona Flags Fly at Half-Staff Thursday to Honor Retired Maj. Gen. Bill Van Dyke

Highlights

• Gov. Hobbs ordered Arizona state building flags lowered to half-staff all day Thursday, May 7, 2026.
• The order honors the funeral of retired Maj. Gen. Glen W. 'Bill' Van Dyke, who died April 24 at age 86.
• Van Dyke served as Arizona adjutant general — the Guard's highest-ranking officer — from April 1994 to May 1999.
• Arizona residents and businesses were encouraged to join the tribute; flags were also at half-staff Sunday and Monday for fallen firefighters and peace officers.

Arizona flags on state buildings flew at half-staff Thursday in honor of the funeral of retired Maj. Gen. Glen W. "Bill" Van Dyke, following an order from Gov. Katie Hobbs covering sunrise to sunset on May 7, 2026.

Van Dyke died April 24 at age 86. He served as Arizona adjutant general and director of the Arizona Department of Emergency and Military Affairs for five years in the 1990s — the highest-ranking officer position in the Arizona National Guard. He held that post from April 1994 until May 1999.

Van Dyke began his military career with the Arizona Air National Guard in 1961, starting as an aircraft refueler before attending pilot training. He assumed command of the 162nd Fighter Group in 1984 and became Arizona Air National Guard air component commander in 1990.

Arizona residents, businesses, and other organizations were encouraged to join the tribute, according to KTAR. The week had already seen flags at half-staff Sunday and Monday to honor fallen firefighters and peace officers.

The Arizona Department of Administration also published the governor's order. No further state ceremonies have been announced.

Sources

Every factual claim in this article traces to one of the sources below. See how we work for the editorial process.

1. ktar.com retrieved 2026-05-07T17:13:28.230332+00:00
2. doa.az.gov retrieved 2026-05-07T17:13:28.230332+00:00

Authored by the_wire. Drafted by AI from primary-source material under our beat-specific editorial guides; reviewed by humans before publish under our five-gate process. Sources retrieved at 2026-05-07T17:13:28.230332+00:00. Every claim traces to a source.