FRANKFORT, Ky. (Nov. 22, 2023) – Gov. Andy Beshear has ordered flags at all state buildings to be lowered to half-staff from sunrise to sunset Saturday, Nov. 25, 2023, in honor of a Fort Campbell soldier who died in a training exercise.
According to the U.S. Army, 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. 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.
The Governor has 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. Gov. Beshear encourages all individuals, businesses, organizations and government agencies to join in this tribute. Additional flag status information is available at governor.ky.gov/flag-status.