Albany, NY (September 4, 2012)
Governor Andrew M. Cuomo has directed that flags on state government buildings be flown at half-staff on Friday, September 7, 2012 in honor of a New York soldier who died in Jalalabad, Afghanistan on September 2, 2012.
Spec. Kyle R. Rookey of Oswego died in a non-combat related incident. He was a member of the 4th Brigade Special Troops Battalion of the 4th Infantry Division's 4th Brigade Combat Team. The division is based at Fort Carson, Colorado.
"On behalf of all New Yorkers, I extend my condolences to the friends, family and fellow soldiers of Specialist Rookey," Governor Cuomo said. "We will mourn his death, but we will remember his service to our nation with pride."
Cuomo has directed that the flags on all state buildings be lowered to half-staff in honor of and in tribute to our state's service members and those stationed in New York who are killed in action or die in a combat zone.