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Dedicated sailor presents flag to school
To demonstrate his appreciation for the support shown to his family, a sailor who recently returned from Iraq presented an American flag to White Sands Middle School.
At a ceremony in the school gymnasium March 20, Chief Petty Officer Samuel Davidson told the students assembled that the American flag represented more than just him.
"I flew this flag over there while I was in Iraq," Davidson said. ''Not just for me, but for everyone over there. I want to present this flag to White Sands Middle School for supporting me, my family and everyone else who is over there.''
Davidson's daughter was attending White Sands Middle School when he left for his Southwest Asia deployment October 2006. She has since been promoted to High School.
White Sands School Principal Larry Davis accepted the flag and a certificate from Davidson to loud applause from the student assembly.
''We are here for Chief Store Keeper Sammy Davidson to present the school a very special gift'' he said. ''In fact, it's so special I get chills and goose bumps just thinking about it ... That's why we thought it was worthy of bringing everyone together today to celebrate this special event.''
The certificate Davidson presented with the flag that Davidson had carried the flag on a mission aircraft over Iraq in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom and expressed the patriotic reason for the event.
In part, it read, ''Old glory symbolizes the sobering power of the United States of America and the unshakable resolve of the men and women dedicated to serving our great nation.''
In an interview with a Missile Ranger reporter, Davidson explained that the flag was his way of thanking the school and the community for the concern they showed his wife and daughter while he was deployed.
Davidson said that Principal Davis and his staff frequently spoke with his wife and daughter and inquired about him and how he was doing. Davidson and his family live at White Sands Missile Range.
For many of the students, the presentation had personal meaning since the Davidsons' daughter ''C.'' had been a friend to them.
''It means a lot to me because Chauncy Davidson was one of my best friends at this school,'' said 14-year-old Alexis B., an eighth grader at White Sands Middle School. ''Having her dad present this flag to us means a lot, since he looks at us as an extended family to him.''
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