Flags at half-staff to honor fallen Mo. Marine

SULLIVAN, Mo. -- Gov. Jay Nixon has ordered all U.S. and Missouri flags on state property to be flown at half-staff for a week starting today to honor a fallen Marine from east-central Missouri.

Marine Chief Warrant Officer 2 Ricky L. Richardson Jr. died June 10 in Afghanistan. The 33-year-old from Sullivan had been in the Marines since 1996. He was an explosive ordnance disposal technician killed while dismantling bombs.

Nixon also ordered state and U.S. flags on state property throughout Missouri be flown at half-staff on June 20, the day of Richardson's funeral.

Richardson is survived his wife and one child.