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Flags of our fighters

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. Kevin Tomko
  • 455th Air Expeditionary Wing Public Affairs
BAGRAM AIRFIELD, Afghanistan --  On a typical afternoon, Senior Airman Ryan Green prepares to begin his shift as an F-15E crew chief. But, first, he has an extra duty to accomplish. 

He gets off the shuttle bus and takes a walk through the operations building and glances at a large brown table stacked with flat boxes -- each containing an American flag. These are special flags, though, and Airman Green will fold all of them. 

Each one was placed on board an aircraft and flown above Afghanistan on a combat mission. 

It has become common practice here for individuals to request flags be placed in Bagram's aircraft for missions, usually in honor of someone or as a gift. 

Because he is a member of the honor guard at his home station at Mountain Home Air Force Base, Idaho, Airman Green has taken it upon himself to see that each flag is folded correctly and returned to the requester in a respectable manner. 

Recalling his first few days of his deployment here, Airman Green said the flags were being put back unfolded in the boxes they came in, and he thought he could lend his talents in this area. 

"I went to the officer in charge at the operations squadron and asked if I could fold them. They had no problem with that," he said. "As a member of the honor guard, folding the flag is something that I really take pride in because it stands for so much." 

Master Sgt. Jimmy Ussery of the 455th Expeditionary Mission Support Squadron reflected about a flag he had placed on an aircraft. 

"I was really surprised to see the flag neatly folded when I got it back," he said. "I was expecting it to be put back in the box. This is my first time in a combat zone, so this is a good reminder of where I've been." 

Airman Green is meticulous and methodical as he grips the flag and begins folding--making sure each stripe is straight, the corners sharp and the folds tight. 

"The flags you buy at the exchange are nylon and they are all a little bit different. So, because of the material, you have to compensate here and there to get all the folds right and keep it straight," Airman Green said. 

Folding a flag, if done meticulously, takes time and requires help. Airman Green has taken on this task using his free time and also some time when he is between jobs during his regular duty hours. He usually asks another Airman from the group to give him a helping hand. Most of the time that help comes from Airman 1st Class Cesar Zayas, another F-15E crew chief, who is glad to pitch in. 

"I've been helping Airman Green since the beginning of the deployment," said Airman Zayas. "Every flag gets folded--every one of them. Airman Green makes you feel good about it because he is so passionate about it." 

The pair said they have folded over 700 flags since the beginning of their deployment.