UPDATE: Flags should be lowered to half-staff upon all public buildings and grounds throughout Erie County, at the Ohio Statehouse, the Vern Riffe Center, and Rhodes State Office Tower on Sunday, September 12th and Monday, September 13th for the viewing and funeral of Navy Hospitalman Maxton W. Soviak of Berlin Heights, Ohio.

In honor of the life and service of Navy Hospitalman Maxton W. Soviak, of Berlin Heights, Ohio, Governor DeWine today ordered that all flags of the United States and State of Ohio be flown at half-staff upon all public buildings and grounds throughout Erie County and at the Ohio Statehouse, Vern Riffe Center, and Rhodes State Office Tower in Columbus from today until sunset on Friday, September 3, 2021. The order will also be effective on the days of Hospitalman Soviak's viewing and funeral. All other public buildings and grounds throughout the state may fly the U.S. and Ohio flags at half-staff at their discretion for the same time period.

The Department of Defense confirmed today that Hospitalman Soviak, who was assigned to 1st Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division, Camp Pendleton, California, was one of 13 service members killed on Thursday as the result of an enemy attack while supporting non-combatant evacuation operations in Kabul, Afghanistan.