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Flags lowered for Staff Sgt. H.E. AlexSept. 12, 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, Wednesday, Sept. 13, in honor of Army Staff Sgt. H.E. Alex, who died Sept. 2 from injuries sustained while on active duty in Iraq. Staff Sgt. Alex, age 32, of Bay City, Mich., was a graduate of Reese High School. He sustained injuries Aug. 30 when he encountered enemy forces using small arms fire in Baghdad. He was assigned to the 4th Squadron, 14th Calvary Regiment, 172nd Stryker Brigade Combat Team, Fort Wainwright, Alaska. Flags should return to full-staff Thursday, Sept. 14. 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 Alaska, Arkansas, California, Connecticut, Illinois, Kentucky, Maine, Minnesota, New Jersey, Oregon, South Dakota, Wisconsin and West Virginia. Media contact: Thom Myers, (269) 387-8400, thom.myers@wmich.edu WMU News |
