Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo has directed that flags on state government buildings—including those at UB—be flown at half-mast on Dec. 20 and Dec. 21 in honor of two New York State soldiers who died in Afghanistan.

Army Staff Sgt. Nicholas J. Reid of Rochester will be honored on Dec. 20. Reid died Dec. 13 in Landstuhl, Germany, from wounds suffered on Dec. 9 in Sperwan Village when enemy forces attacked his unit with an improvised explosive device. Read was assigned to the 53rd Ordnance Company (rxplosive ordnance disposal) of the 3rd Ordnance Battalion (explosive ordnance disposal) based at Joint Base Lewis-McChord in Washington state.

Flags will be flown at half-mast on Dec. 21 in honor of Sgt. 1st Class Kevin E. Lipari of Baldwin, who died Dec. 14 in Logar Province.

Lipari was assigned to Headquarters and Headquarters Company of the 173rd Airborne Brigade Combat Team, based in Bamberg, Germany.

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.