Flags Ordered to Half-Staff for Palm Bay Gunnery Sergeant

Gov. Rick Scott has ordered national and state flags lowered to half-staff on Thursday outside the Brevard County Courthouse, Palm Bay City Hall and state Capitol in Tallahassee for U.S. Army Gunnery Sergeant Jonathan W. Gifford.

Gifford, 34, of Palm Bay, died on July 29 while on patrol in Badghis Province, Afghanistan.

Gifford, a critical skills operator approaching 15 years in the service who had completed multiple combat deployments, was assigned to 2nd Marine Special Operations Battalion, Camp Lejeune, N.C.