Flags lowered Monday for Army Pfc. Shane Cantu

LANSING, Mich.—By order of Gov. Rick Snyder, flags on all campuses of Western Michigan University and throughout Michigan will be lowered to half-staff Monday, Sept. 10, in honor of Army Pfc. Shane Cantu, of Corunna, Mich.

Cantu, 20, died Aug. 28 in Afghanistan. He was a member of the U.S. Army, 1st Battalion, 503rd Infantry Regiment, 173rd Airborne Brigade Combat Team.

Cantu was a 2010 graduate of Corunna High School, where he was a three-year starter on the football team. He attended Adrian College before joining the Army, and was based in Germany and Italy prior to serving in Afghanistan.
 
Cantu was awarded the Bronze Star Medal, Purple Heart, Army Commendation Medal, Army Good Conduct Medal, NATO Medal and Combat Infantryman Badge posthumously. His other awards and decorations include the National Defense Service Medal, Afghanistan Campaign Medal with Bronze Service Star, Army Service Ribbon, Overseas Service Ribbon, Parachutist Badge, Combat and Special Skill Badge, Basic Marksmanship Qualification Badge and the Overseas Service Bar.

Services

Visitation will be from 2 to 8 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, Sept. 8-9, at the Nelson-House Funeral Home in Owosso, Mich. The funeral service will be held at 5 p.m. Monday, Sept. 10, at Corunna High School's Nick Annese Field.

Former Gov. Jennifer M. Granholm issued a proclamation in 2003, requiring U.S. flags to be lowered to half-staff throughout 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.