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Flags lowered for Michigan soldier killed in Afghanistan

Oct. 13, 2009

LANSING, Mich.--By order of Gov. Jennifer M. Granholm, U.S. flags on all campuses of Western Michigan University and throughout Michigan will be lowered for one day, Wednesday, Oct. 14, in honor of Army Sgt. Christopher T. Griffin, of Kincheloe, Mich., who died Oct. 3 while on active duty in Kamdesh, Afghanistan.

Griffin, age 24, died alongside seven of his comrades when enemy forces attacked their contingency outpost with small arms, rocket-propelled grenades and indirect fires. He was assigned to the 3rd Squadron, 61st Cavalry Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, in Fort Carson, Colo.

Griffin was posthumously upgraded from specialist to sergeant. Funeral services will be held Wednesday, Oct. 14, at the Rudyard (Mich.) High School gymnasium.

In December 2003, Gov. Granholm issued a proclamation requiring U.S. flags to be lowered to half-staff throughout the state of Michigan and on Michigan waters to honor Michigan servicemen and servicewomen killed in the line of duty.

Michigan was among the first states to honor its fallen sons and daughters by lowering flags.

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Media contact: Tonya Durlach, (269) 387-8400, tonya.durlach@wmich.edu

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