Why Are Flags At Half Staff In Massachusetts On Thursday?

WILMINGTON, MA -- Massachusetts Gov. Charlie Baker ordered American flags to be lowered to half staff in Massachusetts on Thursday, according to a notice posted on the town of Wilmington's Website. The order comes to honor Technical Sergeant John F. Brady, who was killed in action on November 2, 1944 when his B-17 was shot down by German fighter pilots over Merseburg, Germany. Brady will be laid to rest in Saint Francis Old Cemetery in Taunton, Massachusetts.

Brady was 26 and a member of the 323rd Bombardment Squadron, 91st Bombardment Group (Heavy), Eighth Air Force when he was killed. In 2012 an Army contractor helping to identify remains of soldiers contacted his family looking for a DNA sample. Brady's remains were found and positively identified last year.

A portion of his remains are being interred in Arlington National Cemetery with his crew. The remainder will be buried with his parents in Taunton.

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Photo by U.S. Defense Department POW/MIA Accounting Agency.

Dave Copeland can be reached at dave.copeland@patch.com or by calling 617-433-7851. Follow him on Twitter (@CopeWrites) and Facebook (/copewrites).