Flags lowered Monday for Master Sgt. Gregory Kuhse

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, Oct. 26, in honor of Master Sgt. Gregory Kuhse, of Kalamazoo.

Kuhse, 38, died in a helicopter crash in Kabul, Afghanistan while supporting Operation Freedom's Sentinel. Major Phyllis Pelky, of New Mexico, and three others, including two members of the British Royal Air Force also died in the crash.

Kuhse was an airman assigned to the 3rd Manpower Requirements Squadron at Scott Air Force Base in Illinois. He was a class of 1995 graduate of Comstock High School and enlisted in the Air Force in 1996.

Services and remembrances

Members of the public can pay respects by lining the route through which Kuhse’s remains will be transported, beginning at Duncan Aviation at the Kalamazoo/Battle Creek International Airport, 5605 Portage Road, at 2 p.m. today.

The funeral service will be at 1 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 24, at the Betzler Life Story Funeral Home, 6080 Stadium Drive in Kalamazoo. Visitation will begin at 11 a.m.

Flags at half-staff

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.

When flown at half-staff, the U.S. flag should be hoisted first to the peak for an instant and then lowered to the half-staff position. The flag should again be raised to the peak before it is lowered for the day.