Flags are being flown at half-staff on February 14 honoring, among others, the victims of the Parkland school shooting, in which 17 students and staff at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Florida were killed six years ago today.
Florida Governor Ron DeSantis ordered flags to be lowered at all local and state buildings until sunset, recognizing how “Students, teachers and faculty showed great courage in the face of danger.”
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“The sacrifices of these heroes, as well as the brave actions of first responders, will never be forgotten,” DeSantis said in a statement.
The victims were Alyssa Alhadeff, Scott Beigel, Martin Duque Anguiano, Nicholas Dworet, Aaron Feis, Jaime Guttenberg, Christopher Hixon, Luke Hoyer, Cara Loughran, Gina Montalto, Joaquin Oliver, Alaina Petty, Meadow Pollack, Helena Ramsay, Alex Schachter, Carmen Schentrup and Peter Wang.
In November 2022, Judge Elizabeth Scherer handed 24-year-old Nikolas Cruz 34 consecutive life sentences. Cruz is ineligible for parole on 17 of the 34 sentences, which will run consecutively.
Before she read the sentences, Scherer addressed the families and commended them for their strength, patience and grace during the trial.
“If I could take your pain away or carry your pain for you just for five minutes so you could breathe, I would,” Scherer said. “Because I can’t even imagine what you go through each day.”
Elsewhere in the U.S., governors have ordered flags to be lowered in their respective states, honoring the lives of two police officers killed in the line of duty and one of five U.S. Marines who died in a helicopter crash last week.
Marine Sergeant Alec Langen, 23, of Chandler, Arizona, was among five killed when a CH-53E Super Stallion went down in San Diego, California, during stormy weather on February 6.
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His father, Steve Langen, said he died “with people he wanted to be with, doing what he loved and wanted to do.”
“I would give anything to be able to trade places and just have him come home,” he told KGTV.
The four other Marines killed were Captain Jack Casey, 26; Lance Corporal Donovan Davis, 21; Captain Benjamin Moulton, 27; and Captain Miguel Nava, 28. The crash is under investigation.
Langen enlisted in the Marine Corps in 2017 and was promoted to sergeant in 2022, receiving multiple decorations, including the Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal, Good Conduct Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, National Defense Service Medal and two Sea Service Deployment Ribbons.
Arizona Governor Katie Hobbs, who ordered the flags at all state buildings to be lowered at half-staff until sunset Wednesday, the day of Langen’s internment, said: “It is with great sorrow that we learned that Sergeant Alec Langen, of Chandler, was one of the five Marines killed during a training flight in California.
“We lift up his family, especially his wife Casey and his parents, Steven and Caryn Langen, and mourn alongside them for the loss of this talented and selfless young man, who spent his life in service to others.”
In New Mexico, Officer Jonah Hernandez of the Las Cruces Police Department, who was fatally stabbed on Sunday, is being honored.
Hernandez, 35, was killed after responding to a report of trespassing on private property at a Las Cruces business, the Associated Press reported. Las Cruces Police Chief Jeremy Story said 29-year-old Armando Silva attacked Hernandez, who suffered at least one stab wound and died at a local hospital.
Story said a witness fatally shot Silva before calling on Hernandez’s radio for help.
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New Mexico Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham, who has ordered all U.S. and state flags to be flown half-staff through sundown on February 19, said Hernandez “exemplified exceptional bravery and unwavering dedication in serving and protecting the citizens of Las Cruces.”
“Officer Hernandez will be greatly missed by his community and will be remembered as a loving son, husband, and dedicated father to his two young sons,” Grisham added.
In Tennessee, Governor Bill Lee directed flags to be lowered for 43-year-old Deputy Sheriff Greg McCowan of the Blount County Sheriff’s Office, who was shot and killed in the line of duty on February 8 as he carried out a traffic stop.
A fundraising page for McCowan’s family, organized by the Tennessee Police Benevolent Association and the Police Benevolent Foundation, said the driver of the vehicle that had been stopped opened fire on McCowan and a fellow deputy.
Blount County Sheriff’s Office announced on Tuesday that 42-year-old Kenneth DeHart was arrested in connection with McCowan’s death. The Sheriff’s Office announced a reward of $100,000 for any information leading to DeHart’s arrest on suspicion of first-degree murder, attempted first-degree murder and felony possession of a firearm.
An obituary said McCowan is survived by his fianceé, children, granddaughter and parents, among others. He had been a deputy with the sheriff’s office since 2020, with a tribute noting he received a lifesaving award in April 2021 for saving a man trapped in a burning vehicle.
“Greg was living his life’s dream of being a Police Officer,” his obituary read. “He had a heart to serve and was always wanting and willing to give a helping hand. It was his Honor to serve beside his brothers and sisters in Blue.”
Lee ordered flags to be lowered over the state Capitol and all state office buildings until sunset Wednesday, in accordance with the Hometown Heroes Act.
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