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Commonwealth Flags To Fly At Half-Staff For Fallen Firefighters

By Tony Romeo

HARRISBURG, Pa. (CBS) -- Pennsylvania Governor Tom Corbett has ordered Commonwealth flags lowered to half-staff in honor of two fallen Philadelphia firefighters.

Governor Corbett, appearing with WPHT's Dom Giordano on Wednesday morning, said the order pertains only to flags of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, as decisions about lowering flags of the United States to half-staff are made by the federal government.

"But it will take place in the county of Philadelphia and here in the Capitol complex, recognizing the service of these two heroes that unfortunately went to fight a fire and did not go home to see their family that day," Corbett explained.

Fifty-nine-year-old Lt. Robert Neary and 25-year-old Daniel Sweeney died Monday while battling a warehouse fire in Kensington.

The Commonwealth flags in the capitol complex in Harrisburg and at state facilities in Philadelphia will fly at half-staff through Saturday, the day funerals are to be held for the two firefighters.

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