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Flag Ceremony Honors Fallen Soldier

DAVE NICHOLSON / The Tampa Tribune

Monica Clark, widow of Army Sgt. Cory Clark, addresses a small crowd at a ceremony where the flag was lowered to half-staff in memory of her husband, who was killed in Afghanistan.

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By DAVE NICHOLSON | The Tampa Tribune

Published: October 17, 2007

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PLANT CITY - The widow of Army Sgt. Cory Clark broke down in tears this morning as flags were lowered to half staff in honor of her husband, who was killed Aug. 28 by a suicide bomber in Afghanistan.

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Sgt. Cory Clark

In a brief ceremony outside city hall, Mayor Rick Lott presented Monica Clark a proclamation signed by Gov. Charlie Crist and called on the community to "wrap their arms around this family" in their time of grief.

After a moment of silence, two Plant City police officers lowered the flag.

Flags also will fly at half staff today in Hillsborough County and at the Capitol in Tallahassee. State Rep. Rich Glorioso, who lives in Plant City, planned to ask for a moment of silence today on the House floor.

Monica Clark broke down as she addressed the small crowd of city officials, family members and others.

"I'm just overwhelmed with such emotion and gratitude" for the show of support, she said.

The Clarks' four children, ranging in age from infant to 6, were at the ceremony, along with other members of Clark's family.

Clark, 25, of the Army's 585th Engineer Pipeline Company, was killed with two other members of his unit in the suicide bomb attack on a bridge.

The 2000 Durant High School graduate was the fifth Plant City area member of the military to die in a battle zone since the war on terrorism began. Clark joined the Army six years ago.

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