Obituaries

Area to Honor Fallen Hero

Funeral arrangements have been made for Crystal Lake Marine.

After a small ceremony was held in Afghanistan, it's now time for the area to say goodbye to a Marine who died Jan. 19 in a helicopter crash in Afghanistan.

According to the , City flags will be lowered to half-staff today in honor of USMC Captain Nathan McHone. Flags will return to full-staff Jan. 29 at sunset.

The remains of McHone will be escorted from Dupage County Airport to in Crystal Lake Friday, Jan. 27. The escort will pass by City Hall sometime between 12:30 and 1 p.m, according to police.

Crystal Lake South also plans to honor McHone as his body passes the school at around noon today.

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Crystal Lake South Principal Marsha Potthoff released the following statement:

"Crystal Lake and all of McHenry County lost a true American hero last week
with the death of U.S. Marine Capt. Nathan R. McHone.

McHone and five other Marines made the ultimate sacrifice for their country
when they were killed last Thursday in a helicopter crash while supporting
combat operations in Afghanistan.

Our hearts and prayers go out to McHone's family and friends.

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Nathan McHone was a 2001 graduate of Crystal Lake South High School. While
at South, he was involved in cross country and track.  McHone enlisted in
the Marines in 2005. He earned the rank of first lieutenant in 2007 after
serving two years at the Naval Aviation Command in Pensacola, Fla. In 2008,
he was assigned to Marine Heavy Helicopter Squadron-363, Marine Aircraft
Group-24, 1st MAW, Kaneohe Bay, Hawaii, and was promoted to captain.
In his more than six years in the military, McHone was decorated numerous
times.

He was awarded two Air Medals, the Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal,
the National Defense Service Medal, the Afghanistan Campaign Medal, the
Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, and the NATO Medal.
McHone was on his second tour in Afghanistan when the helicopter crashed.
While we mourn with McHone's family and friends, we also honor the fallen
Marine for his service to country.

Today, at approximately twelve noon, the Captain McHone's body is returning
to Crystal Lake and will be passing by Crystal Lake South.  In an effort to
recognize and honor Captain McHone, I am asking classes to move outside and
line up in front of our school. If students do not wish to go outside, they
may go to the auditorium. I know Nathan's family will appreciate the respect
and honor you give to this event as we remember all of our service men and
women who have made the ultimate sacrifice so that we may live in freedom."

Visitation for McHone will be from 3 to 9 p.m. Saturday at Davenport. The funeral is scheduled for 2 p.m. Sunday at , 932 S. McHenry Ave., Crystal Lake.

Parking will also be available at , 1023 McHenry Ave.

McHone will be buried in Windridge Memorial Park Cemetery in Cary.

Instead of flowers, the family has asked for donations for the Capt. Nathan R. McHone Memorial Scholarship Fund. Donations can be sent in care of , 5100 Route 14, Crystal Lake, IL 60014.


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