Through a general memorandum issued yesterday, Gov. Lolo Matalasi Moliga ordered all flags in American Samoa to be flown at half-staff beginning at sunrise tomorrow (Friday) until sunset Saturday in honor of the late Sen. Sua Vaiuli Matautia, who passed away last month in Honolulu at the age of 72.

The late senator’s remains— accompanied by family members — returned to the territory last Friday. Funeral service is set for tomorrow starting with a brief service at the LBJ chapel followed by the 9a.m. state funeral at the Fono Guest Fale.  The state service will be attended by the governor, Fono leaders, lawmakers and government officials.

Following the state service, the late senator’s coffin will be taken by police escort to his home in Afono village for the church service and overnight vigil. Burial is set for Saturday after the final church service.

In ordering flags to be flown at half-staff, the governor says this is in “remembrance of Senator Sua’s outstanding public service and his dedication to building and leading our beloved territory.”

The governor also authorized the use of the Territorial Flag in the funeral service and ordered that the Department of Public Safety present all “appropriate honors and ceremony as authorized by territorial protocol.”

“I ask the people of American Samoa to join me in honoring the passing of Senator Sua Vaiuli Matautia. His service to his government and people will long be remembered. His commitment and leadership shall stand as legacy for us all to follow,” said Lolo in his memo.

At the time of this sudden death, Sua was serving his first four-year term as one of the two senators for Sua county. Sua was chairman of the Senate Parks and Recreation Committee and vice chair of the Senate Agriculture Committee and was a member of other Senate standing committees.