Many people may have noticed American flags flying at half-staff on Thursday in Carbon County.

This was done as a way to pay respects to the late Clark A. “Shorty” Ritter, the Lehighton borough mayor and retired Pennsylvania state trooper, who died on Oct. 23.

According to the Pennsylvania Department of General Service flag notifications, both the United States and Commonwealth flags were to be flown at half-staff through sunset on Oct. 31, as a way to honor the late mayor for his dedication to the community and to the state.

The order was given by Gov. Josh Shapiro and occurred in all commonwealth facilities, public buildings and grounds in Carbon County.

Commissioners’ Chairman Mike Sofranko said on Thursday that Carbon County lost a “great public servant.”

“It is a great honor for Mayor Ritter and his family,” Sofranko said. “Not only was he mayor, but he was very much involved in the fire department. He was a Pennsylvania State Police officer and he really gave a lot back to his community.

“A lot of people say, ‘Why is the flag at half staff?’ That is to remind you of the public servant that he truly was.”

Sofranko also offered the family condolences in their time of grief.

Ritter died on Oct. 23 at the age of 78.

Not only was he mayor of the borough for the last seven years, but he was also deeply rooted in the Lehighton community, having served on the Lehighton Sesquicentennial Planning Committee, Masonic Lodge 621, Rajah Shriners, and was a member of Zion United Church of Christ, Lehighton.