Governor orders flags lowered Friday, Dec. 9

[AMVETS POST 46]

LANSING, Mich. â?? Gov. Rick Snyder ordered U.S. flags throughout the state to be lowered to half-staff in honor of U.S. Army Private First Class Jackie Lee Diener II on Friday, Dec. 9. Flags should be returned to full-staff on Saturday, Dec. 10.

Diener, 20, of Boyne City, died Nov. 21 in the Kandahar province of Afghanistan from wounds suffered when insurgents attacked his unit. He was assigned to the 3rd Squadron, 71st Cavalry Regiment, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division in Fort Drum, New York.

â??This young man sacrificed his life to preserve our nationâ??s freedoms,â?￾ Snyder said. â??His dedication and bravery will be remembered by his family, friends, community, and our entire state.â?￾

Diener joined the Army in March of 2011 and arrived at Fort Drum in July. He served as a cavalry scout and had been deployed since September.

His awards and decorations include: the National Defense Service Medal, the Afghanistan Campaign Medal w/Bronze Service Star, the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, the Army Service Ribbon, the Overseas Service Ribbon and the Combat and Special Skills Badge Basic Marksmanship Qual Badge. He was awarded posthumously the Bronze Star Medal, the Purple Heart, the Army Good Conduct Medal, the NATO Medal, and the Combat Action Medal.

A funeral service will be held at 11 a.m. on Saturday, Dec. 10 at the Stackus Funeral Home in Boyne City.

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.