To honor the memory of U.S. Army Specialist Christopher Luis Mendonca, a Rhode Island native who died Sunday, December 4, 2011, following an automobile accident near Binghamton, New York, Governor Lincoln D. Chafee today ordered U.S. and Rhode Island flags across the state to be lowered to half-staff until Specialist Mendonca is laid to rest.

Governor Lincoln Chafee ordered that Rhode Island and U.S. flags remain at half-staff for the remainder of Thursday.

The flags were lowered to honor fallen Massachusetts National Guard Specialist Dennis C. Poulin.

The 26-year-old Poulin was injured while serving in Afghanistan on March 28.  He later died from his injuries at a medical center in Germany. 

Poulin, a native of Cumberland, who lived in Pawtucket, was laid to rest Thursday morning at St. Theresa's Church in Pawtucket. 

Flags will be raised to full-staff beginning Friday morning.