Officer presents school, students with flag

By Brian Livingston / staff writer

May 09, 2008 12:47 am

— Support from those at home is so very important to servicemen and women who are thousands of miles away fighting a war.
So when United States Navy Chief Petty Officer Doug Feist wanted to show his appreciation to those at Poplar Springs Elementary School, he brought them something they could observe with national pride.
Feist, who has two children attending the Meridian school, presented the faculty and students with an American Flag Thursday morning that has flown over the garrison headquarters at LSA Adder in Tallil, Iraq. It was his way of saying thank you to the overwhelming support he and his family has had over the past several months during his deployment.
"This is a wonderful school with great people," said Feist, dressed crisply in his summer white uniform. "They did amazing things for us while we were deployed that really helped in being separated much easier."
The flag, encased in a shadow box with a campaign coin and a certificate of authenticity, will be proudly displayed for all students to see.
"It's very hard on a military family when one of the family members is deployed," Feist said. "Without this kind of support, the hardships would be much greater. I just wanted to say I appreciate them for all they've done for me, my family and other servicemembers."

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