Subscribe
On Jan. 23, escorted by the members of the Department of Homeland Security and the Minneapolis/St. Paul police, the 'Flag of Honor' arrived at the Hilton Minneapolis/Bloomington Hotel, in Bloomington, Minn.
The flag was transferred to the wife and family of Chippewa Country Deputy Sheriff, Jason Zunker. Zunker was struck by a car near Chippewa Falls, on Jan. 5, while directing traffic. He is the nation's first officer to be killed in the line of duty in 2008.
The story of the 'Flag of Honor' started shortly after the events of 9/11. The Texas House of Representatives entrusted a United States Flag, which had flown over the State Capitol, to retired U.S. Army Cpl. Chris Heisler. Heisler was compelled and brought the flag to Ground Zero in New York. Along the way he helped organize what is said to be the longest police motorcades in U.S. history.
At Ground Zero, officers form the New York Police Department and Honor Guard presented the flag to New York Gov. George Pataki as a way to honor the fallen firefighters and officers. An inspired decision was made to fly the flag over Ground Zero continuously in honor all of the Americans Heroes.
The flag was carried to Kuwait, Qatar and Iraq to fly with American Soldiers in combat zones. Upon seeing the flag flying among the soldiers in Iraq, Command Sgt. Maj. Scott Denson named the flag the United States 'Flag of Honor'.
Today, the flag makes its journey to Wisconsin to honor one family's ultimate sacrifice. Zunker's family traveled with the U.S. Flag of Honor to Chippewa Falls where it will fly over the Chippewa County Courthouse for 24-hours. The flag will remain in Chippewa Galls until Jan. 30 when it will be transported to Miami.
Places and events where the flag has been: Ground Zero, New Jersey Port Authority, Fort Leonard Wood, Fort Hood, Department of Homeland Security, Immigration and Customs Enforcement, United States Air Force, United States Navy, Dallas Stars Game, Anaheim Ducks Game, American Airlines Center, U.S. Airways Center, Honda Center, Kuwait, Iraq, Qatar, Afghanistan, Clearwater, Miami, Hollywood, Tampa, Mesa, Arlington, Odessa, Austin, El Paso, Houston, New York City, Anchorage, St. Louis, Independence, Oklahoma City, Lexington, Richmond, Virginia Beach, Washington, D.C.
| Date Taken: | 01.23.2008 |
| Date Posted: | 01.29.2008 18:28 |
| Story ID: | 15911 |
| Location: | US |
| Web Views: | 249 |
| Downloads: | 231 |
This work, Flag of Honor Ceremony, by MSgt Lynette Hoke, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
