The city of Cortez is flying the U.S. flag at half-staff in honor of Sgt. 1st Class Will Lindsay, a local soldier who died in combat Friday.

Lindsay, 33, was a Green Beret based at Fort Carson in Colorado Springs. He was killed in combat operations in Afghanistan’s Kunduz province, along with fellow soldier Spc. Joseph P. Collette, 29, of Lancaster, Ohio.

“Our flag now flies at half-staff in honor of Sgt. 1st Class Will Lindsay and will remain so at least until after his service,” Cortez Mayor Karen Sheek said.

She added that flags would be placed along Main Street in Lindsay’s honor as well.

Typically, governors and the president use their authority to order flags to be flown at half-staff, but neither President Donald Trump nor Colorado Gov. Jared Polis issued that order this week. Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine ordered U.S. flags to be flown half-staff in honor of Collette.

Cortez officials made an exception in Lindsay’s case.

“Will’s death is heartbreaking for this community and a terrible tragedy for his family,” Sheek said in an email to The Journal. “How does one adequately express condolences for such a loss? His family, both those here and in Colorado Springs, are in our thoughts and prayers, and we stand ready to support them in any way we can.”

Sheek also said Cortez lowered the U.S. flag recently to honor those killed in the recent mosque shootings in Christchurch, New Zealand.

ealvero@the-journal.com