August 25, 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 beginning Thursday, Aug. 26, until sunset, Saturday, Aug. 28, in honor of U.S. Marine Lance Cpl. Kevin E. Oratowski.
Reports indicate that Oratowski, 23, of Wheaton, died Aug. 18 while on combat operations in the Helmand Province in southwest Afghanistan.
Oratowski graduated from Glenbard South High School in 2005. He enlisted in the Marine Corps in June 2008, and was serving his first combat deployment, according to reports.
He was assigned to the 1st Light Armored Reconnaissance Battalion, 1st Marine Division, I Marine Expeditionary Force from Camp Pendleton, Calif.