Warrens Country My Sons Flag

He went to Iraq for the second time in 2006. I got depressed at Christmas time. My son was in Iraq, that worried me. But also, there is just not much that you can send to a soldier in Iraq for Christmas. I ended up sending him some snack food and a few trinkets.

I wanted to give him something special for his birthday. Then I got the idea one day of giving him an American flag. A nice Armerican flag. That thought was on my mind for a few days and then I remembered seeing on the Internet where you can have a flag flown over the Capitol building for someone.

That was it. That was what I needed to do. I remembered that you went through your congressman to have a flag flown over the U.S. Capitol. So I searched and found Senator Trent Lott's web site. During my search I found two lists. One for the House of Representatives and the other for Senators. These sites list all of the congressmen by state and you just pick out the one that you want to visit.

I went to Senator Trent Lott's web site and found a page for constituent services. On that page, I found a form that can be downloaded and filled out and returned with a check to order a flag to be flown over the Capitol building.

When I got to the part asking the reason for the request, I put;

This flag is for an American Hero on his birthday.

I requested the flag to be flown over the U.S. Capitol building on the 3rd of July 2007. Christopher's birthday.

I mailed the form in with my check for his services and the flag was delivered to me during the last week in July.

Included in the package was a Certificate of Authenticity signed by the Architect of the Capitol.

Senator Trent Lott also included a Certificate.

Isn't that COOL. Getting a certificate from a U.S. Senator for your birthday. That was great.

I mailed the flag to Chris in Iraq. He had told me that there was a flag pole there that was not used, and that if I would send him a flag he would fly it on that flag pole for me. I did not tell him that this was a special flag. He said that he would try to fly the flag on September 11th. But, as things happen, he was out on a mission on September 11th. Unfortunately he never did get to fly the flag. But he had the flag there with him in Iraq and he carried it with him to Kuwait when he was leaving the country. As far as I am concerned, just knowing that he had that special flag there with him, just made it all the more special.

When he returned to Hawaii, his duty station. I asked him to send the flag back to me. I got the flag back during the last week in October.

I live in Tupelo, Mississippi and I am a member of the American Legion. The American Legion in Tupelo has built a really nice park aptly named Veterans Park and it is on Veterans Boulevard in Tupelo.

So on November 11th just before sunrise, I was standing in Veterans Park holding my special flag on a flag pole that I brought with me to the park. I held the flag pole as the sun came up over the hills and tree line to the East. I felt great! Holding my sons special flag high as the sun came up on Veterans Day in Veterans Park on Veterans Boulevard. Knowing that this flag was going to a very special veteran in my heart.

I ordered a large Honors Display Case from my web site and had it sent to him in Hawaii. My wife and I planned on going to see our son in Hawaii in December.

Then Chris announced to us that he was going to marry Deeanna, a fellow soldier he had been with in Iraq on December 15th.

As I was looking at the calendar trying to decide the best days to go there, visit with our son, attend the wedding and come home. I saw one more flag flying opportunity.

My wife and I flew to Hawaii on the 6th of December. The flag and a small 6 foot flag pole was in my luggage.

At 10 o'clock, on December 7th, 2007 I was standing at the Pearl Harbor Memorial flying my flag. We made it there for Pear Harbor Day!!

A few days later, when things were not so hectic. I gave the flag and the certificates to my son and explained the history of the flag to him.

The large Honors Display Case has a beveled base to mount a 3 X 5 flag in the case. And the case is large enough to hold the medals, ribbons, badges, and coins of both my son and his new army wife.

The flag flew over the U.S. Capitol building on 3 July 2007.

The flag was in Iraq and Kuwait with my son in 2007.

The flag flew over Veterans Park on Veterans Day 2007.

The flag flew over Pearl Harbor on Pearl Harbor Day 2007.

I am very proud of that flag. To me it is a priceless heirloom that my son will be able to pass down to his family.

That is just so much better than another pocket knife or necktie.

If you would like to order a flag for a special someone in your life, I have the links listed below.