August 21, 2008

Flags lowered to honor war casualty

Under a proclamation signed by Gov. Rod Blagojevich, the United States flag and the Illinois flag are at half-staff at all State of Illinois facilities until sunset, Friday, Aug. 22, in honor of a former Naperville man killed last week while serving in the military in the war in Iraq.

The flags are to be flown at half-staff in honor of U.S. Army Cpl. James M. Hale.

Reports indicate that Hale, 23, died Aug. 13 after a roadside bomb hit the vehicle he was riding in. Hale was killed while on patrol with the 978th Military Police Battalion in Baghdad. He enlisted in the military in 2003 and was serving his second tour of Iraq, according to reports.

In September, Blagojevich signed legislation requiring all state agencies to fly the U.S. flag, the Illinois flag, and appropriate military flags at half-staff for the death of an Illinois resident killed by hostile fire while a member of the U.S. Armed Forces, or for a law enforcement officer killed in the line of duty.