since I work in a state office building, we often get notice to lower the flags... this just came a few minutes ago:

Governor Andrew M. Cuomo has directed that flags on state government buildings be flown at half-staff on Monday, Dec. 22, 2014 in honor of a Fort Hood soldier who died in Afghanistan on Friday, Dec. 12.

Sgt. Ramon S. Morris died from wounds suffered when enemy forces attacked his vehicle with an improvised explosive device in Parwan Province, Afghanistan. Morris, from New York City, was assigned to the 2nd Squadron, 3rd Cavalry Regiment, 1st Cavalry Division, Fort Hood, Texas.

Too many of our troops are young people who see little future in their current circumstances and find military service as a possible way out of their otherwise dead end lives... if they survive and don't lose it to PTSS. You'll not see names like Romney, Chaney or Bush on the casualty lists...