"Everyone knows someone who is affiliated with that base," said Sen. Bob Hogue, R-24th (Kailua, Kane'ohe). "I feel numb and I know that it's a shared emotion at this time. This is a time for grieving."

Gov. Linda Lingle ordered all state flags to fly at half-staff today until the last of Marines killed in the accident are laid to rest.

Lingle said she spoke with Lt. Gen. Wallace Gregson, who's in charge of about 74,000 Marines in the Pacific. She said she asked if she could meet with a gathering of the families of those killed.

"Let me just say to all the families of the Marines and soldiers who have died in the service of their country that there are never any words that I can offer, either in writing or in person, that can in any way eliminate the pain that these families are feeling," Lingle said.

Lingle said that upon hearing of the accident, "immediately I started to think about the families of those (Hawai'i reserves) who are about to be deployed and what they must be thinking and feeling right now."

Maj. Gen. Robert G.F. Lee, state adjutant general, said as of 7 a.m., he had not received official notification of the incident from the Pentagon "which means not all of the families have been notified."

House Speaker Calvin Say, D-20th (St. Louis Hts., Palolo, Wilhelmina Rise) requested a moment of silence to salute fallen Marines this afternoon.

Rep. K. Mark Takai, D-34th (Pearl City, Newton, Royal Summit), a member of the Hawai'i National Guard, said all 81 military personnel with Hawai'i ties that have been killed in action should be remembered. "The average age of our fallen heroes is 25 years old," Takai said. "Many of them have very little children, just beginning their adult lives. They are our family members, neighbors, friends and co-workers. They are mothers, fathers, someone’s brother or sister. They are grandparents, aunts and uncles ... they are part of our family, our Hawai'i 'ohana."

Takai asked that the names of those military personnel with Hawai'i ties killed in the war be enrolled into the House journal.

Rep. Mark Moses, R-40th (Makakilo, Kapolei, Royal Kunia), a retired Marine Corps officer, noted that the Marines killed yesterday were members of the First Battalion, Third Marines Division, whose motto is "fortune favors the brave."

"I hope all of us will pray that fortune has been theirs," Moses said.