UPDATE (Monday, July 20, 2015; 3:52 pm): This story has been updated to reflect that Governor Malloy ordered US and State of Conneticut flags to be lowered to honor those killed in Tennessee last week.

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Hook & Ladder firefighters lowered the flag on Main Street to half-staff this morning, to honor the five servicemen killed last week in a shooting incident in Tennessee.

A 24-year-old male opened fire at a military recruiting office and a Navy-Marine operations center a few miles apart from each other in Chattanooga on July 16, killing four Marines at that time. A sailor - a US Navy petty officer - wounded in the attack has also died. He succumbed to his injuries on Saturday.

There is no explanation for why the assailant targeted the military facilities, according to the Associated Press. The shooter was shot and killed by police.

Around 10:30 Monday, a crew of five Hook & Ladder firefighters was at the historic Main Street flagpole to lower the summer-size flag. Hook & Ladder Chief Ray Corbo directed traffic around the landmark while Milt Adams operated the truck's ladder, Taren Horvath and Dan Tomascak traversed the truck's ladder to lower the 20- by 30-foot flag, and Joe Miller kept an eye on the scene from behind Truck 114.

The 20-minute operation was done by 10:50. The order for the flag to be lowered came from First Selectman Pat Llodra, the firefighters said.

Mrs Llodra on Monday told The Newtown Bee that the lowering of the flag locally was a way to "simply offer our small recognition of honor for those servicemen who died."

Early Monday afternoon, Connecticut Governor Dannel P. Malloy ordered US and State of Connecticut flags to be flown at half-staff through sunset Tuesday, July 21.

President Obama has not ordered the country's flags to be lowered, but many cities, towns, and private residents across Tennessee have opted to lower the flag as a sign of respect.

Massachusetts Governor Charlie Baker has ordered US and Massachusetts Commonwealth flags to be lowered to honor all of those killed, which included one Marine from Massachusetts. Governors in Arkansas and Wisconsin, each a home state to one of the Marines killed last week, have also followed suit.

It is unclear how long Newtown's flag will remain lowered.