Honor Guard provides flag for elementary school gym

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Victor J. Caputo
  • 22nd Air Refueling Wing Public Affairs
MCCONNELL AIR FORCE BASE, Kan. --  The McConnell Air Force Base Honor Guard donated a flag to Jackson Elementary School during a Veterans Day presentation, Nov. 3, in Wichita, Kansas.

The faculty had been unable to procure a flag to display in the gymnasium, but Tech. Sgt. Terrance Williams, 22nd Force Support Squadron Honor Guard NCO in charge, made sure to fix their issue as soon as he heard of their predicament.

"I was planning the Honor Guard's involvement in the school's Veterans Day presentation," said Williams, "and one of the teachers mentioned that they didn't have a flag for the gym."

Williams had recently been given a large flag from another group on base, and was preparing to have a flag retirement ceremony for it.

"I figured that it would be a lot better for everyone involved if we gave them the flag instead of retiring it," he said. "It still looks great and has years left on its lifespan before they will need to get a new one."

"We appreciate the [Honor Guard's] generous contribution to the school," said Kamiel Evans, Jackson Elementary School principal. "This continues to hammer home how important our military and country are to us. Having that visible sign in the gym really tops that off.

The Honor Guard spent the day putting on a presentation for the students about the American flag, including how it is carried in parades, how it is folded, and how to properly pay respect to it during ceremonies.

"A lot of the kids only see the stuff on TV, they don't know the other, day-to-day responsibilities of the military," said Evans. "We appreciate the time and the knowledge that [the Honor Guard] gives us each year."

Williams is hopeful that his Honor Guard team will be able to continue its relationship with the school in the future.

"The kids love seeing us come out," he said, "and I know that my guys and girls have an absolute blast doing this. Everybody is able to get something out of it each time, from myself to the little first grader sitting in the back."