September 23, 2009
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. Army soldier killed earlier this month while serving in the war in Afghanistan.
Flags are to be flown at half-staff beginning at sunrise, Thursday, Sept. 24, until sunset, Saturday, Sept. 26, in honor of U.S. Army Pfc. Matthew M. Martinek.
Reports indicate that Martinek, 20, of DeKalb, died Sept. 11 from injuries received in a Sept. 4 roadside bomb attack in Afghanistan's Pakita province. The roadside bomb was followed with a rocket-propelled grenade and small arms fire. One other soldier died and three others were injured.
Martinek joined the U.S. Army in March 2008 as a paratrooper. He was assigned to the 1st Battalion, 501st Parachute Infantry Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team (Airborne), 25th Infantry Division, Fort Richardson, Alaska.