Rockland Resident Among Dead in Military Plane Crash

ROCKLAND COUNTY, NY — County resident Own Lennon is among the dead in the military plane crash in Mississippi on Monday. The horrific crash killed 16 people, nine of whom were members of a Marine squadron based at Stewart Air National Guard Base in Orange County.

County Executive Ed Day said in a statement to the press:

"The loss of Marine Owen Lennon of Pomona reminds us again that freedom is never free. Lennon, 26, was among the casualties when a military aircraft that left Stewart Air National Guard Base crashed in Mississippi.

He grew up in Pomona and graduated from Ramapo High School in 2008.

This Marine from Rockland County represented the very best that our young people have to offer. He was immensely proud of his service to our nation.

We, the people of Rockland County, will remember him with a mix of pride and sadness - pride that he died in service to the nation we love and sadness for a young life cut short.

We have reached out to the Lennon family to let them know that they can count on the support and assistance of the county.

As the father of two sons who have served in the military, including one still on active duty, I cannot imagine the pain the Lennon family is experiencing. The County of Rockland mourns with them."

Stewart was closed to reporters and did not issue a statement, according to ABC.com.

People left flowers at the gate.

The military transport plane was headed from North Carolina to California when it spiraled into soybean fields killing 15 Marines and a Navy sailor. "Indications are something went wrong at cruise altitude," Brig. Gen. Bradley S. James said Tuesday, according to news reports.

PHOTO: Andy Lo/Associated Press

SEE: Military Plane That Crashed In MS Was Based At Stewart