Flags lowered Tuesday to honor downstate soldier

LANSING, Mich. – Gov. Rick Snyder ordered U.S. flags throughout the state to be lowered to half-staff in honor of Army Sgt. Joseph M. Lilly, of Flint, on Tuesday, June 26. Flags should be returned to full-staff on Wednesday, June 27.

Lilly, 25, died June 14 of wounds suffered when insurgents attacked his unit with an improvised explosive device in Panjwa’l, Kandahar province, Afghanistan on June 12. He was assigned to the 18th Engineer Company, 1st Battalion, 37th Field Artillery Regiment, 3rd Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 2nd Infantry Division, Joint Base Lewis-McChord in Washington. 

“Sgt. Lilly was a brave and courageous young man,” said Snyder. “In service to our state and nation, he paid the ultimate price and his heroic actions will long be remembered. Our thoughts are with his son and entire family during this difficult time.”  

A 2005 graduate of Carman-Ainsworth High School, Lilly enlisted in the U.S. Army after graduation and completed basic training in Fort Leonard Wood, Mo., where he became a combat engineer. He was deployed to Iraq from July 2009 through August 2010, and was serving his first tour of duty in Afghanistan.

Funeral arrangements are pending.

When flown at half-staff or half-mast, the U. S. flag should be hoisted first to the peak for an instant and then lowered to the half-staff or half-mast position. The flag should again be raised to the peak before it is lowered for the day.