OLYMPIA, Wash. >>  Flags are lowered Tuesday at Washington state agency buildings in memory of a sailor from Des Moines who was killed in Afghanistan.

Gov. Chris Gregoire directed that flags be lowered for Petty Officer 1st Class Sean Carson. The 32-year-old explosives disposal technician was killed Aug. 16 in a Black Hawk helicopter crash that also killed six other service members.

Carson, 32, was based at the Marine Corps base at Kaneohe Bay from 2001 to 2004. He met his wife, Nicole, in Hawaii, and traveled here at least twice a year with his family.

The Carsons have a 4-year-old daughter, Leila.

Carson, based in San Diego with Explosive Ordnance Disposal Mobile Unit 3, was killed in the crash with four Hawaii-based soldiers — the crew on the Black Hawk — along with two San Diego-based Navy SEALs, three Afghan security force members and a civilian Afghan interpreter.

Nicole Carson, who was born and raised in Hawaii and graduated from Maryknoll School, was staying with her parents in Wai­pahu during her husband’s deployment.

Sean Carson loved surfing in Hawaii, and his widow plans to spread his ashes at Leftovers, one of his favorite surf spots on the North Shore.

Nicole Carson is waiting for her husband’s remains to return to Hawaii, and a service wasbeing planned at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific at Punchbowl.

A fund to help the Carson’s wife and daughter with funeral and travel expenses has been set up at Bank of Hawaii, family said.

Donations can be made at any Bank of Hawaii to the “Friends of Leila Carson” account.