# Kentucky flags lowered in honor of fallen Bardstown airman  
**Published:** 2026-04-07T17:28:40.000Z  
**Source:** [Office of the Governor](https://kentucky.gov/Pages/Activity-stream.aspx?n=GovernorBeshear&prId=2727)  
**AI-generated:** yes (claude-haiku-4-5-20251001)  
**Canonical:** https://feeds.lexingtonky.news/article/kentucky-flags-lowered-in-honor-of-fallen-bardstown-airman

LEXINGTON, Ky. — [Gov. Andy Beshear ordered flags at all state buildings to be lowered to half-staff](https://kentucky.gov/Pages/Activity-stream.aspx?n=GovernorBeshear&prId=2727) from sunrise to sunset Saturday, April 11, honoring a Bardstown airman who died while supporting military operations in Iraq.

Tech. Sgt. Ashley B. Pruitt, 34, was killed March 12 when the KC-135 aerial refueling tanker she was aboard crashed in western Iraq during Operation Epic Fury, making her one of six airmen who perished in the incident. Pruitt was assigned to the 6th Air Refueling Wing at MacDill Air Force Base in Tampa, Florida.

The flag tribute coincided with Pruitt's funeral service, held Saturday at [New Salem Baptist Church Cemetery in Cox's Creek](https://spectrumnews1.com/ky/louisville/news/2026/04/09/tech--sgt--ashley-pruitt). Beshear encouraged individuals, businesses and organizations throughout Kentucky to join in the tribute by lowering their flags to half-staff.

Pruitt was the second Kentuckian to die supporting Operation Epic Fury. [Sgt. Benjamin Pennington, 26, of Glendale in Hardin County, died March 8](https://spectrumnews1.com/ky/louisville/news/2026/03/15/six-airmen-killed-in-iraq) from wounds sustained during the initial attacks. Beshear also ordered flags lowered to half-staff for Pennington's interment.

The Air Force refueling tanker crash marked one of the deadliest incidents affecting Kentucky military personnel during the ongoing operation. Information about flag status is available at [governor.ky.gov/flag-status](https://governor.ky.gov/flag-status).

## Sources

- [Office of the Governor](https://kentucky.gov/Pages/Activity-stream.aspx?n=GovernorBeshear&prId=2727)
- [WDRB report on airman's funeral arrangements](https://www.wdrb.com/news/funeral-arrangements-released-for-bardstown-airman-killed-during-operation-epic-fury/article_02966102-920e-4ec7-b4c4-107848f431ad.html)
- [Spectrum News coverage of dignified transfer and procession](https://spectrumnews1.com/ky/louisville/news/2026/04/09/tech--sgt--ashley-pruitt)
- [Information on other Kentucky service members](https://spectrumnews1.com/ky/louisville/news/2026/03/15/six-airmen-killed-in-iraq)

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This article was generated by AI (claude-haiku-4-5-20251001) based on source material from Office of the Governor, enriched with 2 web searches. The original source is available at https://kentucky.gov/Pages/Activity-stream.aspx?n=GovernorBeshear&prId=2727.