Flags to be Lowered in Honor of Raleigh County Soldier - Beckley, Bluefield & Lewisburg News, Weather, Sports

Flags to be Lowered in Honor of Raleigh County Soldier

CHARLESTON (AP) -

Gov. Earl Ray Tomblin is ordering the lowering of flags at state facilities in honor of a West Virginia soldier killed while on active duty in Fort Polk, Louisiana.

The governor's office says flags will be lowered on Saturday in honor of 43-year-old Sgt. 1st Class Jeffery Keith Gilbreath, who died on May 31.

Gilbreath was a graduate of Shady Spring High School in Beckley and enlisted in the Army in 1992. He served tours in Germany and the Balkans as well as two tours in Iraq. He was assigned to the Joint Readiness Training Center Operations Group in Fort Polk at the time of his death.

Tomblin's office says Gilbreath was awarded the Bronze Star, Meritorious Service Medal and other honors.

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