AUGUSTA, Maine — In remembrance and honor of U.S. Army Sgt. 1st Class Daniel G. Alward, Gov. Paul LePage has directed that the U.S. and Maine flags be flown at half-staff from sunrise to sunset Wednesday, June 20, in Caribou.
Alward, 31, died as a result of a motorcycle accident June 9, 2012, in Fayetteville, N.C. He was assigned to Company B, 3rd Battalion 1st Special Weapons Training Group, Fort Bragg, N.C. He graduated from Caribou High School in 1999 and enlisted shortly after graduation.
During his career, Alward deployed to Qatar in support of Operation Enduring Freedom and to Iraq in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation New Dawn, according to an obituary published in the Bangor Daily News on Monday, June 18.
He received the Joint Service Commendation Medal, three Army Commendation Medals, four Army Achievement Medals, four Army Good Conduct Medals, the National Defense Service Medal, and Iraq Campaign Medal with two campaign stars, the Global War on Terror Expeditionary Medal, Global War on Terror Service Medal, U.S. Army Gold Recruiters Badge, Parachutists Badge, and the Combat Infantryman Badge.
Alward is survived by his wife, Amanda Parks and son, Evan, of Hope Mills, N.C.; his father, Gary Alward of Tolland, Conn.; mother, Yvonne Nimmer of Caribou; brother, David Alward and children, Dustin and Delaney, of Presque Isle; mother-in-law Roxann Parks of Caribou; father-in-law Mark Parks of Woodland.
Funeral services will be held 2 p.m. Wednesday, in the chapel at Mockler Funeral Home, 24 Reservoir St., Caribou. Interment will be at Woodland Cemetery.
isn’t it procedure to lower flags in the whole state ?
The criteria for flying the flag at half mast has been watered down as to be nearly meaningless now. It’s a shame–it used to be deeply meaningful.
So you are saying that this soldier isn’t worth lowering the flag for???????
No, I am saying that if this soldier is worth lowering the flag for, then we may as well leave it at half staff all the time.
Do you think we should remain in perpetual mourning?
He is lowering it for a Maine soldier, they dont die daily…
All Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen, Marines and Coast Guardsmen deserve to be honored when they pass. However I have to agree that I beleive we are watering down what it means to have the flags at half-staff. This is what it appears to look like. If you are on active duty and are killed in combat the flags are lowered to half staff state wide. If you are on active duty and die stateside the flags are flown at half staff in the city you went to school in. My question is, is the same being done for former members of the military, how about retired military members? I by no means am saying the Soldier isn’t worth lowering the flag for. What I would like to know is what are the guidlines?
The key word in the protocol guidelines is “may”. The governor MAY proclaim…….
If a soldier had been killed in combat I would have no issue at all with the governors action. With all due respect to Sgt. Alward’s family, I believe the governor is just trying to score points, even though the action is technically within the flag protocol guidelines.
It was meaningful until people lowered the flag for Whitney Houston.
I thought it was reserved for those killed in combat…???
Sad day when the Governor has to order our flag at half mast because we lost one of our men, we as humans have learnt to take every thing for granted today and I mean every thing, right down to the water we drink.
Sir, thank you for your dedicated services. My condolences to the family.
Thank you for your service, My condolences to the family.
To bad Lepage the draft dodger has to use this tragic accident to make himself look good.