Flags at Half-Staff for Voakes

The soldier from Baraga County who recently lost his life in Afghanistan is already being honored locally.

But today, the entire state of Michigan is joining in.

This is the day Governor Rick Snyder has ordered U.S. flags throughout the state to fly at half–staff in honor of Robert Voakes, Jr.

The 21–year–old from L’Anse was one of four soldiers who died from a homemade bomb on June 4th in Afghanistan.

He was laid to rest last Monday.

Following Voakes’s death, the Pentagon awarded him the Purple Heart and the Bronze Star.

Voakes was also promoted posthumously from Army Private First Class to Specialist First Class.