Governor Rell Orders Flags to Half-Staff on Friday 

for Recently Recovered Korean Conflict Soldier

            Governor M. Jodi Rell today announced that she is ordering U.S. and Connecticut flags to be flown at half-staff from dawn to dusk on Friday, June 26, to honor U.S. Army Sergeant First Class Lincoln “Cliff” May of Plainville, who was killed in action during the Korean War.

            May’s remains were among several sets of remains sent to the United States by North Korea in 1993. They were identified this year by comparing DNA to samples provided by two nephews, Glenn and Cliff Block of Bristol.

            “Several decades have passed since Sergeant First Class May left Connecticut to serve our country overseas, but today he is finally home,” Governor Rell said. “All of Connecticut honors his service and sacrifice. Our thoughts and prayers go out to Sergeant May’s family and friends and we hope that his return will provide some closure to his loved ones.”

            Funeral services for Sergeant May – who was killed in action in November of 1950 while serving with the First Cavalry Division – will be held at 10 a.m. on Friday at the O’Brien Funeral Home, 24 Lincoln Avenue, in Bristol. Burial with full military honors will follow in West Cemetery in Plainville.

            May was born September 4, 1928, in Plainville. He attended local schools and was employed at the time of his enlistment in 1948 at manufacturer Landers, Frary and Clark in New Britain. Prior to being sent to Korea, he served as a military policeman at Fort Dix in New Jersey and Fort Devens in Massachusetts.