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American flag ends worldwide tour at Shaw

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Benjamin Ingold
  • 20th Fighter Wing Public Affairs
SHAW AIR FORCE BASE, S.C. --  SHAW AIR FORCE BASE, S.C. – Airmen attending the Senior Master Sgt. David B. Reid Airmen Leadership School at Shaw Air Force Base, South Carolina, presented an American flag to Gary Fowler, Sumter City Police Department emergency management coordinator, outside of the Spratt Education Center, Feb. 2.

Shaw was the second to last destination for a flag that toured the world before ending at the new Sumter City Police Department building.

“This flag is a symbol of the bond between the city of Sumter, South Carolina, and Shaw,” said Fowler. “With us opening a new police department and education center, we wanted to have a common bond.”

The flag was also flown over the United States Capitol, South Carolina Capitol, Yorktown Battlefield, Columbia Criminal Justice Academy, South Carolina State Fallen Officer’s Memorial, Afghanistan and finally at Shaw, said Fowler. The flag will fly at the new Sumter police station for a day and then be retired in a display case inside the police department.

Shaw’s ALS students bore the responsibility of raising the flag over the base and presenting it to Fowler in a retreat ceremony.

“I feel great about (the ceremony),” said Tech. Sgt. Crystal Williams, 20th Fighter Wing protocol noncommissioned officer in charge. “I think it’s a privilege to fly the flag for them.”

Fowler grasped the flag tightly in his arms and, at the command of “dismissed,” a smile broke out under his mirrored sunglasses. His pride in bringing the colors home to the new Sumter Police Station was apparent, as was the pride in the flag detail with a loud exchange of high fives. The flag flown is now resting in its display case in Sumter and can be seen by anyone wishing to view a piece of American history.