Orders Flags Flown at Half Staff Until Oct. 30
HARRISBURG, Pa., Sept. 30 /PRNewswire/ -- Governor Edward G. Rendell
issued the following statement today regarding the eight brave servicemen
killed in the line of duty while serving in Iraq the last two weeks:
"I have been deeply saddened to learn five heroic Pennsylvania National
Guardsmen lost their lives Wednesday in Iraq. Once again, the commonwealth
finds itself in the midst of mourning as we remember the sacrifices of our
native sons. Our deepest sympathies and prayers are with the families at this
time of sorrow.
"In remembrance of the eight soldiers killed in Iraq over the last two
weeks, I am ordering state flags be lowered to half staff beginning today
through Oct. 30. I would also ask all state employees to join me Monday, Oct.
3, in observing a moment of silence at noon as a sign of respect to these
fallen heroes.
"The last two months have been particularly difficult as Pennsylvania has
suffered the unparalleled loss of 15 National Guardsmen. Nineteen
Pennsylvania National Guard members have been killed in action since the
beginning of Operation Iraqi Freedom. And, for the first time, I mourn the
losses as both the commander in chief of our National Guard and as the
employer of a soldier. This week, state employees lost our first colleague to
the war in Iraq.
"All Pennsylvanians join the First Lady and I as we mourn these losses and
remember the sacrifice of these brave men."
The five soldiers killed in the Wednesday attack near Ramadi, Iraq, were
Staff Sgt. Daniel L. Arnold, 27, Montrose, Headquarters-Headquarters Company,
1-109th Infantry; and Staff Sgt. George A. Pugliese, 39, Carbondale; Spc. Lee
A. Wiegand, 20, Hallstead; Spc. Eric W. Slebodnik, 21, Carbondale; and Spc.
Oliver J. Brown, 19, Athens, all of C -Company, 1-109th Infantry (Mechanized).
On Sept. 19, Spc. William Evans, 22, Hallstead, Susquehanna County; Sgt.
Michael Egan, 36, Philadelphia; Spc. William Fernandez, 37, Reading, Berks
County, were killed by an improvised explosive device (IED) while on routine
patrol in Iraq.
There are currently more than 3,200 Pennsylvania Guard troops stationed in
Iraq.
CONTACT:
Kate Philips
717-783-1116
SOURCE Pennsylvania Office of the Governor
 back to top
Related links:
http://www.state.pa.us
CONTACT:
Kate Philips, Pennsylvania Office of the
Governor, +1-717-783-1116
|
