Gift of history

SATHER AIR BASE, Iraq -- Staff Sgt. Harold Beard, left, and Senior Airmen Timothy Delouise, right, and Roberto Oquendo raise a 67-year-old U.S. flag here Dec. 7. The flag, a gift to Sergeant Beard from his father-in-law, flew in Ohio on Dec. 7, 1941 in honor of the fallen at Pearl Harbor, on various U.S. Army posts in Europe during World War II, and on various military posts in Vietnam during the conflict. Sergeant Beard flew the flag in Baghdad, Iraq, to commemorate its 67th birthday, and hopes that someday his daughter, who is currently in U.S. Air Force technical school, will carry on the tradition by flying the flag at her bases of assignment. Sergeant Beard, and Airmen Delouise and Oquendo are deployed from the New Jersey Air National Guard at McGuire Air Force Base. More than 60 Guardmen provide base and airfield security for Sather Air Base, Baghdad, Iraq, which is the largest mover of U.S. and coalition forces, and civilian passengers in Iraq. (Staff Sgt. Jennifer Lindsey)