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Flags lowered for three fallen sons of MichiganNov. 10, 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 three days, Tuesday through Thursday, Nov. 14-16, in honor of three sons of Michigan who were killed while on active duty in Afganistan and Iraq. Army Maj. Douglas E. Sloan will be honored Tuesday, Nov. 14. He was a graduate of Western Michigan University. A former resident of Charlevoix, Mich., most recently of Evans Mills, N.Y., Maj. Sloan, age 40, died Oct. 31 from injuries suffered when an improvised explosive device detonated near his vehicle in Wygal Valley, Afghanistan. He was assigned to the 1st Battalion, 32nd Infantry Regiment, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division, Fort Drum, N.Y. Marine Lance Cpl. Minhee "Andy" Kim of Ann Arbor, Mich., will be honored Wednesday, Nov. 15. Lance Cpl. Kim, age 20, died Nov. 1 while conducting combat operations in Al Anbar province, Iraq. He was assigned to Marine Forces Reserve's 1st Battalion, 24th Marine Regiment, 4th Marine Division, Lansing, Mich. Marine Cpl. Gary A. Koehler of Ypsilanti, Mich., will be honored Thursday, Nov. 16. Cpl. Koehler, age 21, died Nov. 1 while conducting combat operations in Al Anbar province, Iraq. He was assigned to the 1st Battalion, 8th Marine Regiment, 2nd Marine Division, II Marine Expeditionary Force, Camp Lejeune, N.C. Flags should return to full-staff Friday, Nov. 17. 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. Related article Media contact: Thom Myers, (269) 387-8400, thom.myers@wmich.edu WMU News |
