Governor orders flags lowered Monday, Dec. 12 to honor Staff Sergeant Vincent Bell of Detroit

LANSING, Mich. - Gov. Rick Snyder ordered U.S. flags throughout the state to be lowered to half-staff in honor of U.S. Marine Staff Sergeant Vincent J. Bell on Monday, Dec. 12. Flags should be returned to full-staff on Tuesday, Dec. 13. 

Bell, 28, of Detroit, died Nov. 30 in the Helmand province of Afghanistan while conducting combat operations.  He was assigned to the 2nd Battalion of the 11th Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division, I Marine Expeditionary Force, at Camp Pendleton in California.

"Staff Sergeant Bell was a dedicated Marine who sacrificed his life to protect our country," Snyder said. "On behalf of Michiganders, my wife Sue and I send our sincere condolences to his family, friends and community."

Bell joined the Marines in 2001 and was serving his fifth deployment.

He was a two-time recipient of the Purple Heart, awarded twice the Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal, two Combat Action Ribbons, the Presidential Unit Citation, the Navy Unit Commendation, three Marine Corp Good Conduct Medals, the National Defense Service Medal, the Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal, three Iraqi Campaign Medals, the Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, and four Sea Service Deployment Ribbons.

There will be a wake on Sunday, Dec. 11, from 3 to 7 p.m. at the United Memorial Funeral Home in Mt. Clemens. The memorial service will be at 11 a.m. on Monday, Dec. 12, at the Renaissance Unity Church in Warren.

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.

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