October 22, 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 Corps soldier killed earlier this month in the war in Afghanistan.

Flags are to be flown at half-staff until sunset, Saturday, Oct. 23, in honor of Lance Cpl. Alec E. Catherwood.

Reports say that Catherwood, 19, of Byron, died Oct. 14, from small-arms fire during combat operations in Helmand Province, Afghanistan. A 2009 graduate of Byron High School, Catherwood, who enlisted Jan. 1, 2009, was serving his first tour of duty.

He was assigned to the 3rd Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division I Marine Expeditionary Force at Camp Pendleton, Calif.