The school received a flag that flew over Afghanistan about a month ago.  It’s a school tradition to fly a flag over the school for every former Air Force Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps student that is currently deployed with the military, and then send the flag to that soldier.  Alex Arbuckle, who is deployed with the Air Force, took a flag onto his plane during a mission and sent it back to the school as token of appreciation.

According to AFJROTC director Sgt. Ray Watson, the school is not only honored to receive the flag, but it has a personal meaning to many in the school.

“The flag is a constant reminder of why we are in Afghanistan, which is to preserve what the flag stands for and its freedom that it provides us,” Watson said.” For me it kind of represents all of those people that I served with that didn’t make it back during the Gulf War years.”

The flag also has a special meaning to the students of the school according to senior cadet Natalie Medrano.

“It shows that someone who started small brought forth the tradition from here to Afghanistan,” Medrano said.” It’s special because it shows that he still remembers us.”

The flag will be on display in the entrance to school and will continue to inspire students and teachers alike.