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Nelson donates Pentagon flag |
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Wednesday, 20 August 2008 |
By Buck Traxler, I-O Editor
 RAISING OLD GLORY – In the foreground, Staff Sgt. Lucas Levesque of the 819th Red Horse Squadron from Malmstrom AFB, Great Falls, looks on as squadron members Airman 1st Class Cameron Parker, Staff Sgt. Dennis Gabbert, and Airman 1st Class Alexander Washington hoist a flag flown over the Pentagon in a ceremony at the Horizon Lodge on Wednesday afternoon. I-O Photo by Buck Traxler
A flag that had been flown over the Pentagon in Washington, D.C. for Esta Nelson, at the request of her grandson Lt. Col. Mike Nelson, was donated by her to the Horizon Ledge.
SSgt. Lucas Levesque from the Red Horse Squadron told a group in the parking lot, “Members of the 819th are here to perform a flag raising ceremony to honor all of our veterans, past and present, and particularly to honor those veterans who are here and have been residents of this lodge.”
As Susie Ward sang the National Anthem, SSgt. Dennis Gabbert, A1C Alexander Washington and A1C Cameron Parker raised the flag up the staff at the Lodge.
Veterans on hand included Terry Ward, Vern Elings, John Sherrard, Erlinda Miller, Les Hofstad, Jim Maxwell, and Carl Barnhart. Ashton Gregory, Clitis Gregory, Bob Lamma, and Maurice Fladstol.
Representing the VFW Auxiliary at the special observance were Ward, Yvonne Klette and Elsie Lamma.
After the short ceremony, SSgt. Gabber told the I-O, “It was an honor for us to come up to Conrad for this ceremony and help honor our fellow veterans.”
Nelson commented to the I-O, “This is a good way to recognize all the veterans and, not too many places have a flag that has been flown over the Pentagon.”
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