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Flags at half-staff for Michigan war casualtyJuly 31, 2006 KALAMAZOO--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, Tuesday, Aug. 1, in honor of Army Staff Sgt. Michael Dickinson II, who died July 17 from wounds sustained while on active duty in Iraq. Staff Sgt. Dickinson, age 26, of Battle Creek, Mich., was killed when his dismounted patrol encountered enemy forces small-arms fire in Ar Ramadi, Iraq. He was assigned to the 9th Psychological Operations Battalion, 4th Psychological Operations Group, U.S. Army Special Operations Command, Fort Bragg, N.C. Flags should return to full-staff Wednesday, Aug. 2. 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 earlier states to honor its fallen sons and daughters by lowering flags. Sixteen states now follow the practice, including Arkansas, California, Illinois, Kentucky, Maine, Minnesota, New Jersey, Oregon, South Dakota and Wisconsin. Media contact: Thom Myers, (269) 387-8400, thom.myers@wmich.edu WMU News |
