Gov. Baker orders flags at half-staff in honor of Mass. Army Sergeant

Massachusetts Governor Charlie Baker ordered that all flags be lowered to half-staff Thursday in honor of a United States Army sergeant who died last week in Georgia.

According to Francisco Urena, the Massachusetts Secretary of Veterans' Services, Baker asked for all United States and Commonwealth flags to be lowered following the death of Sergeant Rachel R. McKay, a Marblehead native who died on April 8.

McKay, 23, died unexpectedly at Fort Gordon in Augusta, Georgia, according to her obituary, and had recently completed basic combat training at Fort Jackson in Columbia, South Carolina.

"Rachel was a proud, fit, respected and tireless soldier, and a sought after “battle buddy” by her fellow officer candidates in the highly selective program," her obituary read. "She was dedicated to live by and embody the Army’s core values: loyalty, duty, respect, selfless service, honor, integrity and personal courage."

McKay graduated from William Smith College in May 2018, and played on the women's ice hockey team and women's golf team.

Before that, she graduated from Marblehead High School, and played ice hockey, golf and softball.

"But, looking past her military, collegiate and high school accomplishments, Rachel was best at being a sister, daughter and friend," her obituary read. "She was a genuine and caring person with extra doses of empathy and admiration for the underdog, and was deeply rooted with a sense of fairness and selflessness."

Cox Media Group