Beech Tree News Network

Green River DAR has received two large military base flags that flew over areas in Iraq. Rose Marie McEackin spent seven years in Iraq from 2005-2011 and wrote the following information about each flag. 

"The American flag was flown at the General Quarters, at the Al Asad Air Base, Iraq, near a province called Baghdadi.  This province is not even near Baghdad, but, it was called Baghdadi.  Al Asad Air Base is the largest Air Base in Iraq.  This base was originally a U.S. Marine Base.   In 2009, the Navy was the Base Command Group with the Army until 2011. The flag was flown from 2009-2011."

Mark Hood hung this 12x18 U.S. flag on the side of his building on Tyler Street.  It will hang there until after the Catfish Festival is over.

The largest of the flags (20x30)  will be flying at the City Park during the Catfish Festival.

"This American flag flew over the palace in Baghdad, Iraq from 2003-2011.  When we came into Iraq in 2008 and the compound that was set up was Camp Victory and one of the huge palaces that Saddam had is where we had set up base.  The American flag flew with "Pride and Glory".

These flags were sent from Rose McEackin, by way of Judy Vance Lane to Christine Coleman, a member of the Green River Chapter NSDAR.   Judy was Circuit Clerk of Ballard County while Christine was Circuit Clerk of Butler County.  Judy now lives in Florida and works in the Court System, there.

Judy said, "Thank you for being and caring.  This is historic and deserves honor and respect.  Love, Judy"

Submitted by Christine Coleman