During a press conference Friday, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis announced that flags in Florida will be lowered to half-staff for conservative talk radio legend Rush Limbaugh once his funeral arrangements are made.
“I know they’re still figuring out the arrangements but what we do when there’s things of this magnitude, once the date of internment for Rush is announced, we’re going to be lowering the flags to half-staff,” the governor said. Limbaugh, who resided at his “Southern Command” oasis in Palm Beach Florida for the past ten years, died on Ash Wednesday after a year-long bout with stage IV lung cancer. He was 70.
DeSantis put out a statement following Limbaugh’s death, calling talk titan “the GOAT of radio, of conservative media” who inspired “a loyal army of American patriots.”
.@FLCaseyDeSantis and I are saddened to learn of the passing of fellow Floridian and our friend, Rush Limbaugh. My statement ⬇️ pic.twitter.com/L4GuZZNhfy
— Ron DeSantis (@GovRonDeSantis) February 17, 2021
Republican Florida State Rep. Anthony Sabatini had requested on Wednesday that Florida’s flags be lowered to half-staff in honor of Limbaugh’s passing.
Today I sent a letter to Governor DeSantis requesting the lowering of Florida’s flags to half-staff in honor of the passing of a great Floridian—Rush Limbaugh.
Rush was a relentless champion of America and of civic engagement. May his memory live on forever. pic.twitter.com/5vXHbo9mDz
— Rep. Anthony Sabatini (@AnthonySabatini) February 17, 2021
During the the news conference in West Palm Beach Friday, DeSantis was joined by Limbaugh’s producer and friend, James Golden aka Bo Snerdly.
Golden fought back tears as he paid tribute to his recently departed good friend, noting that he’d known Rush for most of his adult life.
And he repeated a poignant point he’d made on Fox News’ Hannity show the night before. “Rush is like a second generation founding father,” Golden said. “The seeds that he planted are going to sprout in America and continue to grow for generations, and generations to come.”
Golden said that “America will be great again—not just because of Rush but because of men like … this governor.”
Limbaugh, he continued, “was one of the most incredible human beings I ever met. It goes beyond what he did for the media—he transformed it— it goes beyond what he did for the country—in so many ways he helped transform that too—it goes to the greatness of his soul. What a wonderful, decent human being he was … who genuinely loved the people of this country, and wanted to see the people of this country prosper—as is our birthright.”
Not surprisingly, the left howled with rage on social media following DeSantis’ announcement.
“Only a disgusting bigot would think it’s appropriate to lower flags to half-mast for Rush Limbaugh,” said one critic on Twitter.
The president of the United States or the governor of a state may order the flag to be at half-staff to honor the death of a significant national or state figure.