An American flag that once flew over a U.S. military base in Iraq now proudly hangs in a hallway at Lakeville Elementary.
From October 2004 to January 2005 this flag flew over a U.S. Army forward operating base in Sadr City (formerly known as Saddam City and Al Thawra), a vast, poverty-stricken Shiite Muslim ghetto in the capital city of Baghdad.
The flag was sent by Sergeant First Class Tracy Henrikson to Lakeville Elementary as a thank you gift for the more than 300 care packages, Christmas cards and holiday packages students have mailed soldiers since last spring.
SFC Henrikson, who’s a member of the 1st Battalion, 161st Infantry Regiment of the Washington Army National Guard, is the brother of Kristen Hulbert, president of the Lakeville PTO.
‘We’re very proud of it,? Hulbert said of the flag. ‘It was a really nice surprise.?
Last spring, Lakeville students made, sold and purchased special Earth Day necklaces, the proceeds from which were used to buy items for soldier care packages including first aid materials, foot care products, hand-held electronic games, puzzles and magazines.
Over the holiday season, Hulbert helped organize ‘Operation Christmas Card? during which students mailed cards, letters and holiday packages to soldiers.
The idea was to keep a ‘steady stream? of mail flowing to soldiers to help ‘ward off? the holiday blues of being away from their loved ones, Hulbert said.
‘It was a really great outpouring of support from our school,? she said.
Along with the flag, SFC Henrikson sent a photo of his fellow soliders and himself holding the flag, plus a thank you letter which read:
‘To the students of Lakeville Elementary School,
‘Thank you for sending me the nice packages. Everyone here enjoyed them.
‘Enclosed is a picture of some of my soldiers and a flag that was flown over Baghdad on our FOB (forward operating base). We’ve helped open some schools since we’ve been here and when I see these students, I think of all of you and hope to be home and see you soon.?
SFC Henrikson ? who’s based out of Fort Lewis, Washington, but lives in Harrison Township, Michigan ? is ‘hopefully? due home in April, ‘if everything goes well with the (Iraqi national) elections,? which were held Jan. 30, according to Hulbert.
‘We’re hoping to see him soon,? she said.
Hulbert said the special flag will remain prominently displayed in the showcase near the school’s main entrance until her brother comes home.