WHEREAS, the last Monday in May has been federally established as the day to celebrate Memorial Day; and

WHEREAS, R.S. 1:55(B)(2) directs that National Memorial Day shall be annually proclaimed as a legal holiday and a day of rest in the state of Louisiana;

NOW THEREFORE I, M.J. "MIKE" FOSTER, JR., Governor of the state of Louisiana, by virtue of the Constitution and laws of the state of Louisiana, do hereby order and direct as follows:

SECTION 1: National Memorial Day, Monday, May 31, 1999, is declared a legal holiday in the state of Louisiana and shall be observed as a day of rest.

SECTION 2: On National Memorial Day all state buildings flying the flag of the United States of America shall display the flag at half-staff until noon and shall thereafter raise the flag to the top of the staff in accordance with guidelines of the United States Flag Code, 36 U.S.C. Section 170, et seq.

SECTION 3: Insofar as practicable, the appointing authorities and/or heads of all institutions, offices and departments of the state (hereafter "appointing authority") shall permit the officers and employees under their control to observe National Memorial Day, Monday, May 31, 1999, as a day of rest. Nonetheless, an appointing authority shall have discretion to require said officers or employees to work on the holiday when, in the appointing authority's judgment, it is required for the efficient administration of a state facility, the operation of which is necessary and indispensable to the citizens of this state.