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| Student receives flag flown over Afghanistan base |
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| News - Spring Hill | |||
| Written by Chase Jordan | |||
| Wednesday, 03 February 2010 08:00 | |||
Jake Van Daele was only expecting a letter from his cousin Bryan Fields, but he was surprised when he received something larger.  “I thought he sent one letter, and it was a big box just for a letter,” Jake said. The 11-year-old opened the box from the U.S. Post Office and received a United States flag that was flown over the Bagram Air Base in Afghanistan, along with a letter. “Thank you for your class’ thoughtfulness over the holidays,” Fields wrote in the opening of the letter. With the permission of his family, Jake decided to share it with his peers at Spring Hill Intermediate School. Thanks to his cousin, who is serving in the Navy Mobile Construction Battalion also known as Seabees, the flag now has a home at SHIS. “It’s kind of cool because it flew over the base,” Jake said. Jake is a fifth-grade student in Marissa Cowan’s class. During the holiday season, the class made Christmas cards for his cousin and other troops in his naval battalion. The idea came from Jake’s mother, Mary. Cowan’s class raised the flag Jan. 25, for one day. It was taken down later because of weather conditions. During the activity, the students said the Pledge of Allegiance and Jake raised it with the help of Brenda Boydston, custodian. “I think it’s awesome that the kids got to see an artifact from a U.S. war or conflict,” Cowan said. “They got to be a part of the flag ceremony, and that doesn’t happen very often for fifth-graders.” When Jake brought the flag to school, he was very cautious with it. Cowan said it was a good moment for the students to learn about proper flag etiquette. “Don’t let it touch the ground,” Jake said about the flag. Fields plans to come home later during the year. Jake said they plan to raise the flag during a Fourth of July party. Jake said he has a good relationship with his cousin, who resides in Ohio. “Whenever they come down, we play Madden,” Fields said with a smile. “But he always beats me.” Principal Pam Bevan participated in the ceremony with the students. “We’re very honored that Jacob allowed his cousin’s flag to be flown over the school,” Bevan said. “I was a part of the ceremony, and it was quite touching.”
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