Why flags are flying at half-staff in Massachusetts on Tuesday

BOSTON (WWLP) – Governor Maura Healey has ordered all U.S. and Massachusetts flags to be lowered to half-staff on Tuesday.

Flags will be flown half-staffed on Tuesday in honor of Staff Sergeant Ray Tourville, Jr., United States Marine Corps, of Sandwich who passed away on September 15.

According to The Enterprise Obituaries, Ray joined the Young Marines at 11 years old and was part of the first graduating class of the Cpl. Nicholas Xiarhos Young Marines. He enlisted in the Marine Corps during his senior year of high school, shipping off to Parris Island shortly after graduating from Sandwich High School in 2015.

He was a part of the military for nine years, serving as an infantry squad leader with Weapons Company, (3/2) 3rd Battalion, 2nd Marine Regiment, and later as a weapons company section leader with the (2/4) 2nd Battalion, 4th Marines. Ray also deployed with the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU) and served as an instructor with the Expeditionary Operations Training Group (EOTG).

Ray will be laid to rest with full military honors at the Massachusetts National Cemetery.

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