Gov. Bob McDonnell designated Friday as a day of mourning in Virginia for the 30 members of the U.S. military who died after their helicopter was shot down in Afghanistan.
Many of the victims were members of a Navy SEAL team based in Virginia Beach.
McDonnell said the loss of those men has a profound impact on Virginia, home to one of the nation's largest military communities. He has ordered all state flags to be flown at half-staff from dawn to dusk on Friday. It will be one of the few public signs of remorse in the area since the men died.
The Republican governor is also urging residents to make donations to the Navy SEAL foundation, which is based in Virginia Beach and provides assistance to victims' families.
Copyright The Associated Press
