Flags to be lowered in honor of Private 1st Class Belmontes and Sgt. 1st Class Estle

Flags on government buildings will be lowered to half-staff on Friday in honor of two Fort Drum Soldiers who lost their lives in Afghanistan.

Private 1^st Class Jose O. Belmontes, from La Verne, Calif., and Sgt. 1^st Class Bobby L. Estle, of Lebanon, Ohio, lost their lives on July 28^th in Wardak Province, Afghanistan.

Private 1^st Class Belmontes and Sgt. 1^st Class Estle died of injuries sustained from enemy small arms fire. Both Soldiers were assigned to the 630th Engineer Company of the 7th Engineer Battalion of the 10th Mountain Division’s 10th Sustainment Brigade.

"I join with all New Yorkers in mourning the loss of Private 1^st Class Belmontes and Sgt. 1^st Class Estle and send my deepest sympathies to their family, friends, and fellow soldiers," Governor Cuomo said. "We will honor the service of these Fort Drum soldiers and we will be forever grateful for their dedication to our nation."

Governor Cuomo has directed that the flags on all state buildings be lowered to half-staff in honor of and in tribute to our state's service members and those stationed in New York who are killed in action or die in a combat zone.