October 18, 2010

Flags lowered to honor war casualty

Under a proclamation signed by Illinois Gov. Pat Quinn, the United States flag and the Illinois flag are to be at half-staff at all State of Illinois facilities in honor of a U.S. Marine killed earlier this month in the war in Afghanistan.

Flags are to be flown at half-staff from sunrise, Tuesday, Oct. 19, until sunset, Thursday, Oct. 21, in honor of Lance Cpl. John T. Sparks.

Reports say that Sparks, 23, of Chicago, died Oct. 8, from injuries received from small-arms fire during combat in Helmond Province, Afghanistan.

Sparks joined the Marines in February 2008. He was serving his first deployment. Sparks was a member of the 3rd Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division, I Marine Expeditionary Force, based in Camp Pendleton, Calif.