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Flags lowered for Michigan man killed in AfghanistanJuly 7, 2008 LANSING, Mich.--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, July 8, in honor of Army National Guard Sgt. 1st Class Matthew L. Hilton of Livonia, Mich., who died June 26 while on active duty in Afghanistan. Sgt. Hilton, age 37, died as a result of wounds suffered near Forward Operating Base Shank in Afghanistan when his convoy encountered improvised explosive devices, small arms fire and rocket-propelled grenades. He was assigned to 425th Infantry Regiment, Michigan Army National Guard, Selfridge, Mich. 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 first states to honor its fallen sons and daughters by lowering flags. More than 20 states now follow the practice in some form, including Alaska, Arkansas, California, Connecticut, Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Maine, Minnesota, Montana, New Jersey, New Mexico, Oregon, Pennsylvania, South Dakota, Utah, Wisconsin and West Virginia. Media contact: Thom Myers, (269) 387-8400, thom.myers@wmich.edu WMU News |
