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GOVERNOR PAWLENTY ORDERS U.S. AND STATE FLAGS AT HALF-STAFF IN HONOR OF SERGEANT BRENT KOCH -- June 23, 2006

Governor Tim Pawlenty today ordered that the United States flag and the State of Minnesota flag be flown at half-staff at the State Capitol from sunrise until sunset on Monday, June 26, 2006, in honor and remembrance of Sergeant Brent William Koch, who was killed in action in Iraq on June 16, 2006.

Funeral services for Sergeant Koch will be held in Morgan, Minnesota on Monday morning. The following is the text of the Governor’s official proclamation:

WHEREAS: Sergeant Brent William Koch was born on October 7, 1983, in St. James, Minnesota, to Kevin Koch and Valerie (Loft) Koch; and

WHEREAS: Sergeant Koch graduated from Cedar Mountain High School in 2002, and furthered his education at Southwest Technical College in Jackson, Minnesota, graduating in June, 2005. He joined the Minnesota National Guard in February, 2003; and

WHEREAS: Sergeant Koch was a devoted soldier who loved serving his country and did so with great pride; and

WHEREAS: Sergeant Koch was assigned to Minnesota Army National Guard’s Company E, 2nd Battalion, 136th Infantry Combined Arms Battalion, in Redwood Falls, Minnesota. His unit was deployed to Iraq in March, 2006, as a part of the 1st of the 34 Brigade Combat Team; and

WHEREAS: Sergeant Koch died a hero while protecting his country and fighting for freedom on Friday, June 16, 2006, in Ad Diwaniyah, Iraq; and

WHEREAS: Sergeant Koch is preceded in death by his great-grandparents and two cousins, Tylor and Nicholas Loft; and

WHEREAS: Sergeant Koch is survived by his father, Kevin Koch; his mother, Valerie Koch; step-sister, Lindsay Gaasch; grandparents, Lowell and RoseAdelle Koch, and William and Barbara Loft; aunts and uncles, Brian Koch, Terry and Lori Koch, Mark and Becky Sandmeyer, Angela Loft, and William Loft; great-grandmother, Erma Fritz; special friends, Ed Gaasch and Deb Holmes; and many other friends and family who loved him dearly and will miss him greatly; and

WHEREAS: Visitation for Sergeant Koch will be held on Sunday, June 25, 2006, from 2:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. at the Nelson-Martin Funeral Service in Redwood Falls, Minnesota; and

WHEREAS: A funeral with full military honors will be held on Monday, June 26, 2006, at 10:00 a.m. at Cedar Mountain High School in Morgan, Minnesota. Burial will follow at Elm Creek Cemetery; and

WHEREAS: The State of Minnesota thanks the family of Sergeant Koch for his dedicated service to the people of this country and we extend our thoughts and prayers to his family.

NOW, THEREFORE, I, TIM PAWLENTY, Governor of Minnesota, do hereby order all U.S. and Minnesota flags be flown at half-staff at the Capitol Complex, including state buildings, monuments and grounds in proximity to and including the Minnesota State Capitol, from sunrise until sunset, on Monday, June 26, 2006, in honor and remembrance of Sergeant Brent William Koch.