Governor Abigail Spanberger has ordered flags across Virginia to be flown at half-staff in memory of United States Army 1st Lieutenant Kendrick Lamont Key Jr. of Richmond, who died heroically in May 2026 while deployed in Morocco. Lt. Key, a platoon leader with Charlie Battery, 5th Battalion, 4th Air Defense Artillery Regiment, was known for his dedication to his Soldiers.
During the African Lion multinational military exercise, Lt. Key tragically lost his life attempting to rescue a fellow Soldier who had fallen from coastal cliffs into the Atlantic at the Cap Draa Training Area. He directed an improvised rescue and moved to secure her himself before both were lost. For his selfless actions, he was posthumously awarded the Soldier’s Medal, the Army’s highest non-combat heroism recognition.
Governor Spanberger said, "His final act, undertaken to protect a fellow Soldier in his care, stands as the fullest measure of a leader, and a true testament to how much he cared about his unit." The flag order mandates that the flags of the United States and the Commonwealth of Virginia be lowered at sunrise on Wednesday, July 22, 2026, and remain at half-staff until sunset on all state and local buildings and grounds.