GOVERNOR PATERSON DIRECTS FLAGS TO BE FLOWN AT HALF-STAFF

Governor David A. Paterson has directed that flags on New York State government buildings be flown at half-staff on Monday, June 8, in honor of three Fort Drum Soldiers killed in action in Nerkh, Afghanistan on June 1.

PFC Matthew W. Wilson, PFC Matthew F. Ogden, and Staff Sgt. Jeffrey A. Hall were killed when their humvee struck an improvised explosive device. The three Soldiers were assigned to 2nd Battalion, 87th Infantry, 3rd Brigade Combat Team of the 10th Mountain Division.
Wilson was from Miller, Missouri; Ogden was from Corpus Christi, Texas; and Hall was from Huntsville, Alabama.

“On behalf of all New Yorkers I extend our condolences to the families of these Tenth Mountain Division Soldiers,” said Governor Paterson. “While they were not New Yorkers to start with, we consider all the Soldiers at Fort Drum our own. The sacrifice of these brave Soldiers will not be forgotten and our hopes and prayers are with their families and comrades in arms.”

In honor and tribute of our State’s soldiers who are killed in action, Governor Paterson has directed the flags on all State buildings to be lowered to half staff in appreciation of their heroic sacrifice.