Flags at half-mast honor fallen soldier

Published September 9, 2013 This content is archived.

Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo has directed that flags on state government buildings—including those at UB—be flown at half-mast on Sept. 10 in honor of a New York Air National Guard member who died in Afghanistan on Sept. 5.

New York Air National Guard Staff Sgt. Todd Lobraico Jr., a resident of New Fairfield, Conn., died of small arms fire while on patrol outside Bagram Air Base. He was a member of the 105th Security Forces Squadron, which is an element of the 105th Airlift Wing at Stewart Air National Guard Base at Newburgh, N.Y.

The 105th Security Forces Squadron deployed a team to Bagram Air Force Base in June to help provide security there.

Cuomo has ordered that flags on all state buildings be lowered to half-mast in honor of and tribute to New York service members who are killed in action or die in a combat zone.