Dayton orders flags lowered in honor of Minnesota Marine

The Associated Press
Minneapolis
Sgt. Dillon Semolina
Sgt. Dillon Semolina, then a lance corporal, gives hand signals before taking off as a part of a training exercise at Mount Bundey Training Area in July 2014. Semolina died in a helicopter crash off the coast of Hawaii.
Cpl. Scott Reel | U.S. Marines 2014

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Gov. Mark Dayton has ordered all U.S. and Minnesota flags to be flown at half-staff in honor of a Marine from Minnesota who died in a helicopter crash.

Twenty-four-year-old Sgt. Dillon Semolina died Jan. 14. He was one of 12 Hawaii-based Marines who were killed when two helicopters crashed during nighttime training.

Dayton has ordered that flags at all state and federal buildings in Minnesota be flown at half-staff Friday, when a service for Semolina will be held in Bloomington.

Semolina graduated from Delano High School, where he played football. He is survived by his wife, parents and several siblings.

He will be buried at Fort Snelling National Cemetery.

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