Flags lowered to honor war casualty

June 07, 2012

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 an Illinois soldier killed last week in Afghanistan.

Flags are to be flown at half-staff from sunrise, Friday, June 8, until sunset, Sunday, June 10, in honor of U.S. Marine Corps Lance Cpl. Joshua E. Witsman of Oakwood.

Reports said Witsman, 23, died May 30 while supporting combat operations in the Kajaki District of Afghanistan.  Witsman was on his second tour of duty and was serving with Weapons Company 2nd Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division, 1st Marine Expeditionary Force, out of Camp Pendleton, Calif.

Witsman, formerly of Covington, Ind., graduated from Covington High School in 2007.  He enlisted with the U.S. Marine Corps in February 2009.