Flags to fly at half-staff Saturday in KY to honor soldier who died in training exercise

(KBSI) – Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear ordered flags at all state buildings to be lowered to half-staff from sunrise to sunset Saturday, November 25 in honor of a Fort Campbell soldier who died in a training exercise.

Sgt. Andrew P. Southard, 27, of Apache Junction, Arizona, died Nov. 10 when his MH-60 Black Hawk helicopter crashed in the Mediterranean Sea during a refueling mission as part of a training exercise, according to the U.S. Army.

He was assigned to Company C, 1st Battalion, 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment, Fort Campbell, Kentucky.

A memorial service for Southard will be held Saturday at 10 a.m. at Neal-Tarpley-Parchman Funeral Home at 1510 Madison Street, Clarksville, Tennessee.

Gov. Beshear also directed flags to be lowered Saturday in honor of Staff Sgt. Tanner W. Grone, whose funeral is also taking place that day, and former First Lady Rosalynn Carter.

Additional flag status information is available at governor.ky.gov/flag-status.