We are the land of the free because of the brave. All flags were at half-staff around Bladen County on Wednesday in honor of 16 service members who died.
Governor Roy Cooper ordered all United States and North Carolina flags at state facilities to be lowered to half-staff from sunrise to sunset on Wednesday, July 12 in tribute to the 16 service members who died Monday night in a Marine KC-130 transport aircraft crash.
Governor Cooper said on a social post, “Yesterday we learned that among the 16 individuals killed in yesterday’s plane crash in Mississippi, seven were North Carolina Marine Raiders based right here at Camp Lejeune. Our hearts 
go out to the families of those killed, as well as the Marines they served alongside. Danger and sacrifice are inherent to the jobs carried out by our service members, and this tragedy is a reminder that they serve at home and abroad every minute of every day.
Kristin and I, along with millions of North Carolinians and Americans, honor the service and sacrifice of these brave individuals and their families.”
According to the Governor’s press release, the aircraft was transporting six Marines and one Navy sailor from the 2d Marine Raider Battalion based in Camp Lejeune.
The names and hometowns of the victims have not been released pending notification of family. The flight originated at an air station in Cherry Point, N.C.
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