Jan. 25, 2007 — Gov. John deJongh Jr., commander-in-chief of the V.I. National Guard, has directed that flags on all public and private buildings in the U.S. Virgin Islands remain at half-staff as the territory mourns the loss of fallen V.I. National Guardsmen Lt. Col. David Canegata III and Sgt. 1st Class Floyd Lake.
DeJongh said that flags should remain at half-staff until the two fallen war heroes are buried.
“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,” deJongh said.
Both men were killed in Iraq on Jan. 20 when the helicopter they were riding in crashed. Federal military officials confirmed the deaths on Wednesday during a mid-afternoon briefing at Joint Force Headquarters on St. Croix.
DeJongh and Lt. Gov. Gregory Francis will participate in the funeral services for both Canegata and Lake.
According to Government House Communications Director Jean Greaux Jr., “The flags were to be returned to full-staff status on the morning of Jan. 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 extend the period of mourning in the territory.”
