Flags lowered to honor war casualty

November 01, 2011

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 Pekin soldier who died in combat last month while in Afghanistan.

Flags are to be flown at half-staff immediately until sunset, Wednesday, Nov. 3, in honor of U.S. Marine Corps Lance Cpl. Jordan S. Bastean.

Reports said Bastean 19, died Oct. 23, while on combat operations in Helmand province, Afghanistan.  An infantry assaultman, Bastean was in his first Afghanistan deployment, according to reports.

Bastean graduated from Pekin Community High School in 2010, and was a four-year junior ROTC cadet.  He was assigned to the 3rd Battalion, 7th Marine Regiment, 1st  Marine Division, I Marine Expeditionary Force out of Twentynine Palms, Calif.