U.S. Air Force Lt. Col. Michael E. Mac Lain did not choose his alma mater to get promoted to lieutenant colonel at. Instead, he chose a plot of sacred ground directly across from Clemson University’s Memorial Stadium – where both of his sons, Sean and Eric, played football (and one still plays) as Clemson Tigers.
The location made sense, because football and military service go side-by-side at Clemson.
Mac Lain, of Lillington, N.C., asked to be promoted in front of Clemson’s Scroll of Honor Memorial, which honors Clemson alumni who died in the line of duty. It sits across the street from Memorial Stadium, which itself was named in 1940 to honor those killed during military service. As an extension of the Scroll, the adjoining Memorial Park pays tribute to the service of thousands of Clemson alumni and friends who have served the state and nation in fields ranging from agriculture to the military.
A joyful group of friends, family, and supporters including his wife, his two sons, and Clemson’s Chief of Staff Max Allen watched as retired U.S. Air Force Col. Sandy Edge administered the oath of office to Mac Lain.
It was the perfect morning for a promotion. Rays from the September sun pierced the tree branches over their heads behind a crisp blue sky – and the two American flags in the park laid still as sentinels for the ceremony since there wasn’t the slightest puff of breeze to move them.
Mac Lain is the Aeromedical Operations Flight Commander for the 43rd Aeromedical Evacuation Squadron, Pope Army Airfield, Fort Bragg, NC. He directs daily flight operations for 60 assigned personnel, and provides medical care as a Flight Nurse on aeromedical evacuation missions.
Mac Lain has deployed nine times to combat zones and successfully aero medically evacuated over 700 of the most ill and severely injured American Soldiers, Sailors, Marines and Airmen in the most austere environments.
Date Taken: | 09.30.2016 |
Date Posted: | 09.30.2016 16:18 |
Story ID: | 211055 |
Location: | CLEMSON, SOUTH CAROLINA, US |
Hometown: | LILLINGTON, NORTH CAROLINA, US |
Web Views: | 235 |
Downloads: | 0 |
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