July 7, 2005 – In honor of former Sen. Frits E. Lawaetz, who died June 16, Gov. Charles W. Turnbull ordered that all flags on government buildings be flown at half staff from sunrise Saturday to sunset Sunday – the day of his memorial service.
Lawaetz, who died at his family home on St. Croix, was 97.
"Senator Fritz Eduard Lawaetz's dedication and commitment to the social well-being of his community left an indelible mark on the lives of the people of the territory, and his passing represents a great loss to the residents of the Virgin Islands and more especially to the community of St. Croix where he resided," Turnbull said in a release from Government House announcing the period of mourning.
Lawaetz played "a key role in the building and guiding of the Democratic Party of the V.I.," Turnbull added.
In addition to being a longtime legislator, Lawaetz was a farmer, philanthropist, farmer, knight and sportsman.
The memorial service will be held at 4 p.m. Sunday at the Lawaetz Family Museum in Little LaGrange on St. Croix. (See "Former Sen. Lawaetz Leaves Vast V.I. Legacy").

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