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January 25, 2007
Governor directs flags at half-staff as territory mourns the death of two VI guardsmen Gov. John deJongh, Commander-in-Chief of the Virgin Islands National Guard, today directed that flags on all public and private buildings in the Virgin Islands remain at half-staff. “The flags were to be returned to a full-staff status on the morning of January 26 following the period of mourning for former U.S. President Gerald Ford, however, the confirmation of the death of two V.I. National Guardsmen on Wednesday led the Governor to extending the period of mourning in the territory,” according to Government House Communications Director Jean Greaux, Jr. DeJongh said that flags on all public and private buildings should remain at half-staff until the interment of the two fallen war heroes, Lt. Colonel David Canegata III and Sergeant First Class Floyd Lake. “We are today in a period of mourning for two members of the V.I. National Guard who were lost in an unfortunate incident last Saturday.” Both men were killed in Iraq on January 20 when the helicopter they were riding in became involved in a mishap. Federal military officials confirmed the deaths on Wednesday during a mid-afternoon briefing at Joint Force Headquarters on St. Croix. De Jongh and Lt. Gov. Gregory Francis will participate in the funeral services for both Lt. Colonel Canegata and Sergeant First Class Lake. |
