Gov. Andy Beshear has ordered flags at all state buildings to be lowered to half-staff from sunrise to sunset Saturday, Nov. 4, in honor of a Letcher County firefighter who died in the line of duty.

Assistant Chief Joseph “Joe” Back of the Whitesburg Fire Department suffered a medical emergency while on a call for service on the evening of Friday, Oct. 27. Back was transported to Pikeville Medical Center, where he remained until his death Monday.

Funeral services for Back will take place at 1 p.m. Saturday at Whitesburg First Baptist Church. Interment will follow at Dixon Cemetery in Elk Creek.

Gov. Beshear encourages all individuals, businesses, organizations and government agencies to join in this tribute.