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State flags to be lowered to honor North Belle Vernon firefighter

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BELLE VERNON – Gov. Tom Wolf asked state offices in Westmoreland County Thursday to lower Pennsylvania flags to half-staff to honor a North Belle Vernon firefighter who died this week at his home after answering a call.

Wolf asked for the commonwealth flags to be lowered until sunset today for Neil B. Cope, 46, who died Tuesday in his bed after supplying mutual aid for a structure fire in neighboring Rostraver Township.

“I think it’s a great way to honor him,” borough fire Chief Kurt Parshall said.

“He was a good dude who got taken away too soon,” Parshall said.

He said Cope did everything at the fire hall, including working bingos and had risen to the rank of lieutenant.

It appeared Cope died of natural causes, Parshall said.

Cope, of North Belle Vernon, was a bus driver in Belle Vernon Area School District.

The firefighter memorial service for him will take place at 7 p.m. Friday in the Parzynski Funeral Home, 626 Broad Ave., North Belle Vernon.

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