NEW YORK -- Flags are at half staff across the state today to honor the Hudson Valley soldier who died while serving overseas. Major Paul Voelke was in Afghanistan for a nine month deployment with the 1st Battalion, 30th Infantry Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat team out of Fort Stewart in Georgia.

Voelke spent 14 years in the Army and was deployed to Afghanistan once before, and twice to Iraq.

He is survived by his wife, two children, and his parents.