EDITOR’S NOTE: Maj. Larry D. Scheetz, 52, of Sharon, is a petroleum liaison officer assigned to the 942nd Quartermaster Detachment in Fairfax, Va., and is stationed near Nasiryah, Iraq. After seeing the conditions Iraqi children live in, Scheetz and his wife Dawnle started Operation School House to collect school supplies, clothes and toys to send to the children. What follows are letters from Scheetz about his experiences as a soldier. For more information about the project or how to make donations, contact Dawnle Scheetz at TheScheetz@gmail.com or 724-699-2485 or Joann Milani at Sgt.Rocko@Newfield.net or 330-307-5044.

When asked to write an article for the unit newsletter, I searched for what would be appropriate, interesting and/or inspiring.

The topic I selected came from my observations during my recent rest and recuperation

leave to the United States. Soldiers were excited as our plane landed at the final destination after the long trip home, and as they exited the plane, Americans everywhere were thanking us for our service to our country.

A few weeks later, I was processing through the Atlanta International Airport and as the older ladies and gentlemen from the USO escorted us through the lobby of this airport they rallied everyone sitting everywhere to get up from their tables and chairs no matter where they were in this airport to clap and cheer for the American soldiers on their way back to the war in Iraq. Huge rounds of applause broke out throughout the entire airport as I and the younger men filed two-by-two through the airport lobby.

I supposed as I looked over my shoulder at the soldiers following me their smiles were as big as Cheshire cats and perhaps even erased the fears of yet once again leaving their families back home. As we headed down to the gates we had plenty of time on our hands before we were to depart, civilians came out from every store and restaurant to shake our hands, pat us on the back and wish us good luck, “God speed,” be careful and the usual comment “keep your head down low below the top row of sand bags and come back home again.”

I stopped short of the gate as we dispersed around the airport some soldiers grabbing a soda, a magazine for the long flight and for me I wanted to eat one last good meal on American soil at one of the restaurants.

While having dinner at the airport waiting for my return flight, a married couple came over and felt compelled to thank me. The man began to tell me of his prior service

as a soldier and how proud they were of my contributions and the sacrifices that my family and I had made for my country.

As I finished my meal and while I was relishing the taste of the food, trying to savor the last bit of my American food that I might have for awhile, the man scooped up the bill and told me I would not be paying for it. This meal was purchased by an American for an American.

Inspired by these gestures of patriotic gratitude, I asked myself, what actually ties us together during this war? What binds us together? The answer was located on my right shoulder the whole time. The American flag is the symbol of our nation, the tie that binds us together. People seem to wonder why the flag patch on the Army uniform is reversed. The reason has to do with proper display of the flag. The blue field of stars should always be in the highest position of honor.

When viewing the flag on a wall, the highest position of honor is the upper left when displayed horizontally, and at the top (upper right) when displayed vertically. When displayed on a "moving object" like a person or a vehicle, the highest position is the front, not the rear. So, the field of blue should be displayed to the front.

For flag patches worn on uniforms, the same principle applies. The blue star field always faces toward the front with the red and white stripes behind. Think of the flag not as a patch, but as a loose flag attached to the Soldier's arm like a flagpole. As the soldier moves forward, the red and white stripes will flow to the back.

Wow, the soldier is like a flagpole for America? He or she is an object that’s strong, upright and ridged, yet flexible enough to bend and not break in the testing winds. Perched high above, over-watching, representing and protecting the American people below!