Funeral held for Navy SEAL killed in Afghanistan | News

GRANDVILLE, Mich. (AP) -- Family and friends have gathered in western Michigan to pay their respects to a U.S. Navy SEAL who was killed in a helicopter crash in Afghanistan.

Gov. Rick Snyder ordered U.S. flags lowered statewide Thursday in honor of 27-year-old Petty Officer David J. Warsen of Kentwood.

The flag-lowering came on the day of Warsen's funeral at Mars Hill Bible Church in Grandville, near Grand Rapids. Burial was at Blain Cemetery in Kent County's Gaines Township.

His family says in a statement that Warsen "was truly devoted to his teammates and country."

Warsen died Aug. 16 along with six other Americans and four Afghans when a Black Hawk helicopter crashed northeast of Kandahar.

Warsen was a special warfare operator based in California. He was an East Kentwood High School graduate.