Governor Andrew M. Cuomo has directed that flags on state government buildings be flown at half-staff on Tuesday, April 30, 2013 in honor of two Fort Drum soldiers who died in Pul-E- Alam, Afghanistan on April 23.

Captain Aaron Blanchard, of Selah, Washington and 1st Lt. Robert J. Hess, of Fairfax, Virginia died of wounds suffered from enemy indirect fire. The two men were assigned to the 2nd Aviation Battalion of the 10th Mountain Division's 10th Combat Aviation Brigade.