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Flags lowered for Michigan soldier killed in Iraq

Oct. 11, 2009

LANSING, Mich.--By order of Gov. Jennifer M. Granholm, U.S. flags on all campuses of Western Michigan University and throughout Michigan will be lowered for one day, Monday, Oct. 12, in honor of Army Spc. Paul E. Andersen, of Dowagiac, Mich., who died Oct. 1 while on active duty in Baghdad, Iraq.

Andersen, age 49, died from injuries he sustained when his camp was attacked by enemy forces. He was assigned to the 855th Quartermaster Company in South Bend, Ind.

In December 2003, Gov. Granholm issued a proclamation requiring U.S. flags to be lowered to half-staff throughout the state of Michigan and on Michigan waters to honor Michigan servicemen and servicewomen killed in the line of duty.

Michigan was among the first states to honor its fallen sons and daughters by lowering flags.

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Media contact: Tonya Durlach, (269) 387-8400, tonya.durlach@wmich.edu

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