Holcomb directs flags to be flown at half-staff
Indiana Gov. Eric J. Holcomb is directing flags in Bartholomew County to be flown at half-staff in honor of U.S. Army Sgt. Jonathon M. Hunter, who was killed in action Aug. 2 while serving his country in Afghanistan. Flags should be flown at half-staff from sunrise to sunset on the day of his funeral, which is Saturday.
Holcomb also asks businesses and residents in Bartholomew County to lower their flags to half-staff on Saturday to honor Hunter’s service and dedication to duty.
Public has opportunities to pay their respects
The public will have opportunities Friday and Saturday to pay their respects to U.S. Army Sgt. Jonathon Hunter.
7 p.m. today: Hunter will be honored during the Columbus North-Columbus East football game at the John Stafford Athletic Complex in Clifty Creek Park. A moment of silence will be observed during the pregame ceremony before Hunter’s father Mark participates in the coin toss.
10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday: Visitation for Hunter will be in the Columbus East High School gymnasium, 230 S. Marr Road.
2 p.m. Saturday: Funeral service at East begins for Hunter with full military honors.
Livestream of funeral being made available
Columbus East High School is working with the family U.S. Army Sgt. Jonathon Hunter and the military to provide a livestream broadcast of his funeral Saturday.
East officials said the family inquired about whether the livestream would be possible to allow family members who could not travel to Columbus to view the funeral, along with Hunter’s fellow servicemen in Afghanistan.
East plans to livestream the funeral service at facebook.com/cehs.media/ beginning at 2 p.m. Saturday and school officials hope to include the 21-gun salute that is planned after services.
Social media fund drive underway for widow
A social media fund drive is underway to provide financial assistance for Whitney M. Hunter of Fayetteville, North Carolina, U.S. Army Sgt. Jonathon Hunter’s wife of just more than nine months.
As of Tuesday morning, nearly $26,000 toward a goal of $50,000 had been reached through donations by about 500 people. To participate, visit gofundme.com/support-for-sgt-jonathon-hunter.
U.S. Army’s policy for notifying next of kin
When a member of the U.S. Army dies while in service, the notification process outlined in Army Regulation 600-8-1 in put into place.
The person most closely related to the casualty is considered the Primary Next of Kin for casualty notification and assistance purposes. This is normally the spouse of married persons or parents of unmarried individuals who have no children. The next of kin should be notified within four hours of receipt of the casualty report.
Notifications to the next of kin are to occur between 6 a.m. and 10 p.m. local time. The intent is to notify the next of kin while at home, not while on the job. Exceptions may include lifting restriction on hours or using the telephone for notification. If using telephonic notification, a uniformed Army representative will offer official condolences or expressions of concern at the earliest opportunity.
