August 26, 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 beginning Thursday, Aug. 28, in honor of a Naperville man killed earlier this month while serving in the military in the war in Afghanistan.

The flags are to be flown at half-staff from sunrise Thursday to sunset Saturday, Aug. 30, in honor of U.S. Marine Lance Cpl. Tony G. Mihalo.

Reports indicate that Mihalo, 23, died Aug. 14 by a roadside bomb while on foot patrol in the Helmand province in Afghanistan, according to reports. Mihalo joined the Marines in 2004 and was serving his third combat tour, the first two of which were in Iraq, according to reports.

Mihalo’s death was the second military death of a Naperville resident due to combat in two days. U.S. Army Cpl. James M. Hale 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.

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.