Posted on 09/10/2010 9:14:27 PM PDT by Stoat
Keep an eye on the two American flags when they are brought into Falcon Stadium on Saturday. There is significant meaning behind each one.
One was flown in Afghanistan, over a spot where soldiers buried debris from the World Trade Center after a battle, according to Post 911 Foundation leader Rich Miller. The other was flown over the World Trade Center site. That flag was a gift to the academy – it was draped over the casket of Lt. Gen. George Simler, former Air Force athletic director, at his funeral in 1972.
Air Force decided to have a remembrance ceremony before Saturday’s football game on the ninth anniversary of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks, and it went all out. Detective Steve Hayden, a New York police officer, and FDNY firefighter Ken Haskell will be honorary game captains. They will be honored by the cadet wing. The Falcons are asking fans to be in their seats by 1:30 p.m., a half-hour before kickoff against BYU.
“There will not be another event in this country, other than New York City, in a stadium that will compare to it,” said Mike Simler, son of George Simler, who lauded Air Force for its efforts in putting the event together.
The stories behind the flags show how every detail was considered. The flag from Afghanistan will be carried out by a Falcons player as he leads the team out of the tunnel. Air Force will not reveal who will get that honor.
The other flag, which will be parachuted into the stadium, also has special meaning. Mike Simler kept the flag since his father’s funeral. The academy has always been special to the Simler family, and Mike Simler described the academy as a second family. He wanted to give the academy that flag as a token of the family’s appreciation and also as a tribute to his father.
Simler got in touch with Miller, and while working on some of the details for Saturday’s ceremony at Falcon Stadium, the idea was hatched to use that flag.
“To me, I thought it would be a great honor to have that flag fly over ground zero, and to give to the academy for everything they’ve done for us,” said Simler, who thought his father would be proud to be honored that way.
The flag was sent to New York, where the Port Authority allowed it to be flown over the World Trade Center site Sept. 2. It was taken across the street to FDNY Ladder 10, where two firefighters folded it. The flag was brought back to Colorado the next day.
“It was a great honor to hold that flag and have that flag brought down to the World Trade Center and raised,” Miller said. “I was overwhelmed. It sent chills up my spine.”
Special American Flags ping
I am Impressed, thanks for post.
I bet the AFA will sully the event by asking Muslims to be included in the prayers—I know the arguments (freedom of religion,diversity,et all) I know as well it was that bloody religion of submission to Allah that continues to commit acts of WAR /jihad-and we do not respond in the only language the
bloody Muslim understand.
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