Why flags in Raleigh and North Carolina are flying at half-staff starting Friday
Gov. Roy Cooper ordered flags at all state buildings and facilities to half-staff in honor of former U.S. Secretary of State Madeleine Albright, who died Wednesday.
The order honoring Albright, the first woman to serve as the country’s top diplomat, goes into effect Friday morning and keeps flags at half-staff until sunset on Sunday, according to a news release from the N.C. Department of Administration.
“Secretary Madeleine Albright was a trailblazer who will inspire generations to come. She led with dignity and honor, and our prayers are with her loved ones at this time,” Cooper said in a statement.
Albright was nominated to serve as Secretary of State by former President Bill Clinton, and served in that role from 1997 until 2001. Before that, she served as the U.S. ambassador to the United Nations from 1993 to 1997.
Marines killed in training exercise to be honored
Beginning Monday morning, flags will again be lowered to honor four U.S. Marines killed March 18 when their Osprey aircraft crashed in Norway during a training exercise, the Department of Administration said.
The Marines were training in the Arctic Circle in support of Exercise Cold Response 2022, a training exercise for NATO allies and partners to prepare troops to work in cold weather throughout Norway.
The cause of the crash is under investigation, but Norwegian authorities reported bad weather in the area, the Associated Press reported.
The four Marines, Cpl. Jacob M. Moore of Catlettsburg, Kentucky; Gunnery Sgt. James W. Speedy of Cambridge, Ohio; Capt. Matthew J. Tomkiewicz of Fort Wayne, Indiana; and Capt. Ross A. Reynolds of Leominster, Massachusetts, were assigned to the 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing, stationed at the Marine Corps Air Station in New River, N.C.
In a statement, Cooper said, “Our hearts are with the family, friends and loved ones of the four Marines from North Carolina who lost their lives overseas. We’re grateful for our service members today and every day.”
Flags will remain at half-staff in honor of the Marines until sunset on Wednesday, March 30.
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This story was originally published March 25, 2022 at 9:01 AM.
