Photo By Master Sgt. Ashlee J.L. Sherrill | The U.S., City of Boone, Iowa and Afghanistan flags whip in the wind Tuesday as...... read more read more
PARWAN PROVINCE, Afghanistan – Soldiers of Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 2nd Infantry Brigade Combat Team, 34th Infantry Division, participated in a traditional patch ceremony at Bagram Airfield here this week.
For the ceremony, soldiers flew the City of Boone, Iowa flag to honor the city where the headquarters company is located.
The patch ceremony was held to recognize the unit’s time in a combat zone, awarding soldiers the right to wear the Red Bull combat patch, and also to recognize the citizens of Boone for their continued support of their citizen soldiers.
Col. Ben Corell, 2-34th IBCT commander and Strawberry Point, Iowa resident, received the city flag from John Slight, Boone mayor, during the send-off ceremony last summer at the Des Moines Area Community College in Boone.
“It is great to have such wonderful support by the Boone community, both when at home-station and deployed abroad,” said Corell. “We wanted to include them in this significant ceremony to show our appreciation for everything they have done to support the soldiers of the brigade.”
“I thought it was really cool that we could fly the Boone flag,” said Sgt. Tyler A. Smith a communications specialist and Boone native. “I am proud to be able to have the Boone flag flying when we were awarded our combat patches.”
Placed below the reversed American flag on the right shoulder, signifying American forces continuing to move forward, is the combat patch. The combat patch has a history dating back to World War II.
The unit patch is worn on the left shoulder sleeve signifying what unit the soldier is assigned. When deployed to a combat zone, 34th Infantry Division soldiers earn the right to wear the Red Bull patch on their right shoulder.
The Red Bull combat patch symbolizes not only serving with the 34th Infantry Division, but it is also a visible display of the hardships endured and commitments made by the soldiers while assigned to the unit.
Like many uniform decorations, it is an honor to wear the unique combat patch, a bond to the past that is shared with Red Bull soldiers who fought in previous wars.
| Date Taken: | 12.09.2010 |
| Date Posted: | 12.10.2010 06:31 |
| Story ID: | 61674 |
| Location: | BAGRAM AIR FIELD, AF |
| Web Views: | 208 |
| Downloads: | 14 |
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