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Flags lowered Tuesday for Capt. Justin Peterson

Oct. 7, 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, Oct. 10, in honor of Marine Capt. Justin D. Peterson, who died Oct. 1 from injuries sustained while on active duty in Iraq.

Capt. Peterson, age 32, of Davisburg, Mich., died from injuries sustained in a noncombat-related vehicle accident in Al-Anbar province, Iraq. He was assigned to the 1st Tank Battalion, 1st Marine Division, I Marine Expeditionary Force, Twentynine Palms, Calif.

Flags should return to full-staff Wednesday, Oct. 11.

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

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