Soldiers prepare to fold a flag that was draped over the casket of fallen soldier Sgt. Courtney Dean Finch during a graveside service Thursday at Fort Leavenworth National Cemetery. Finch died July 24 in Qayyarah, Iraq, from a noncombat-related cause.

Friends and family gathered Thursday to pay tribute to a Leavenworth man described as another of America’s fallen heroes during a graveside service at Fort Leavenworth National Cemetery.

Sgt. Courtney Dean Finch’s loved ones said goodbye in a traditional ceremony, complete with a gun salute. A bugle call resonated over the crowd as family members and friends wept and comforted one other.

Finch, 27, died July 24 in Qayyarah, Iraq. He died from an unknown noncombat cause, and an investigation is under way.

Two of Finch’s family members were presented with American flags as a keepsake and reminder of the service Finch gave to his country.

Gov. Kathleen Sebelius, who was in attendance, ordered all flags in the state to be flown at half-staff in Finch’s honor.

Born on June 8, 1980, in Baldwin, Wis., Finch first enlisted in the Kansas Army National Guard in July 2001. Since then, he served six years in such places as Kosovo, the Balkans and Iraq with the 714th SECFOR in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom.

Thursday’s service was an opportunity to remind those lives he touched about his accomplishments and sacrifices.

During his career in the military, Finch received several awards, including the Army Good Conduct Medal, the National Defense Service Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Iraqi Campaign Medal, Kosovo Campaign Medal, Overseas Service Ribbon, the Armed Forces Reserve Medal with M Device and the German Army Marksmanship-Silver.