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Flags lowered for Michigan soldier killed in Afghanistan

Aug. 24, 2009

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, Aug. 25, in honor of Army Cpl. Nicholas R. Roush of Middleville, Mich., who died Aug. 16 while on active duty in Herat, Afghanistan.

Roush, age 22, died from injuries sustained when an improvised explosive device detonated near his vehicle. He was assigned to the 1st Psychological Operations Battalion, 4th Psychological Operations Group (Airborne), at Fort Bragg, N.C.

Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. Tuesday at the First Baptist Church of Middleville with burial in Mt. Hope Cemetery. Roush was the son of Robert and Donna Roush of Middleville.

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: Tonya Durlach, (269) 387-8400, tonya.durlach@wmich.edu

WMU News
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