Photo By Sgt. Christopher Keller | CAMP VICTORY, Iraq - The American flag flies over the Al Faw palace here on April 8 in...... read more read more
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by Sgt. 1st Class Jennifer Schwind
U.S. Central Command Public Affairs
CAMP VICTORY, Iraq – The small, quiet ceremony occurred on a clear Easter Sunday afternoon on the rooftop of Al Faw palace here. As each U.S. flag was raised toward the sky, the Soldiers present rendered salutes, then meticulously folded the colors. None of those involved had ever met the fallen Soldier being honored, but each respected the ultimate sacrifice he made.
When U.S. Army Maj. Robert McWilliams, Operations Officer for the Iraq Assistance Group, arrived here in March, he learned of a program to fly U.S. flags above Al Faw palace. The palace, which Saddam Hussein had built following the 1991 Gulf War in honor of the Iraqi soldiers who freed the city of Faw from Iranian control, currently houses the Multi-National Corps – Iraq headquarters.
"I thought it would be a great opportunity to honor Spc. Michael Arciola because he gave his life for the people of Iraq and the people of our country," McWilliams said. "It would be a fitting tribute to have a flag flown in honor of him over here."
Arciola, posthumously promoted to specialist, was killed by sniper fire in Al Ramadi, Iraq, on Feb. 15, 2005. The twenty year-old former high school baseball star was serving as a machine gunner with 1st Battalion, 503rd Infantry Regiment, 2nd Infantry Division.
McWilliams, a White Hall, Ark. native, was then a chemistry instructor at West Point, was called upon to be the casualty assistance officer for the family. His duty was to provide information and assistance to the family as they made decisions about funeral and burial services. Officially, he worked with the family until all beneficiary claims were settled; however, McWilliams said he became very close to the Arciola family as well as the Elmsford mayor, and has remained in contact with them ever since.
"That entire process and that whole emotional event brought us all together," McWilliams said. "It was emotional for me. I've never known so much about someone I've never met."
Knowing of a flag-making company in Arciola's hometown of Elmsford, N.Y., McWilliams contacted the similarly-named mayor, Robert Williams, there. Soon after, Don Exposito, owner of D & S Tools and Flag Co., donated 26 flags to the cause and sent them to Iraq, where they were flown on April 8, which was not only Easter but also McWilliams's birthday. The flags were then shipped thousands of miles back to their origin, where Mayor Williams made special plans for them.
"We're actually going to have one lead our Memorial Day parade and one will fly over the main flagpole at village hall for a couple weeks after. At that time we'll take the flag that led the parade and put it in the showcase to preserve it forever," Mayor Williams said.
With a population of 4,600, Elmsford is very small and tight-knit community so "everyone knows everyone," according to Williams.
"The community was strongly affected by Michael's death," McWilliams explained. "Really the loss wasn't just for the family, but for the entire village of Elmsford."
"It's going to be a very emotional day in Elmsford knowing that those flags came from Iraq. It will bring a lot of people to tears," Mayor Williams said. "It's going to mean one more major part of Michael's passing that will definitely ease the pain a little bit, not that it will ever go away, but it will mean a lot to the people here."
| Date Taken: | 04.18.2007 |
| Date Posted: | 04.18.2007 08:35 |
| Story ID: | 9981 |
| Location: | BAGHDAD, IQ |
| Web Views: | 362 |
| Downloads: | 317 |
This work, IAG Major honors fallen Soldier with special flags, by SFC Jennifer Schwind, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
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