Governor orders flags lowered

LANSING, Mich. – Gov. Rick Snyder has ordered U.S. flags to be lowered to half-staff in honor of Army Staff Sgt. Matthew J. Leach, of Ferndale, on Wednesday, July 11. Flags should be returned to full-staff on Thursday, July 12.

Leach, 29, died June 26, in Kandahar, Afghanistan in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. He was assigned to the 1/334th Regiment, 1st Brigade, 104th Training Division (Leader Training), in Fraser.

“We will forever be grateful for the service of Staff Sgt. Leach to our country and state,” said Snyder. “On behalf of all Michiganders, I offer my sincerest condolences to his family during this time.”

Leach joined the Army in 2003 and served on active duty with two deployments to Iraq. He then joined the Army Reserve in 2008 and was on his first deployment to Afghanistan.

Funeral services will be at the Great Lakes National Cemetery, 4200 Belford Road in Holly at noon on Wednesday, July 11.

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.