Special Flag Ceremony

U.S. Army Guard Chief Warrant Officer Clifford Thibodeau is a recipient of the Army's Medal of Valor for his service as a Black Hawk helicopter pilot in Afghanistan. In October, Thibodeau carefully folded and stowed a U.S. flag which was flown during one of his Medivac missions and shipped it off for display at his local American Legion post in Winterport, ME.

When he received the flag in Maine, Argonne Post 138 Commander and retired postal employee Phil Higgins had a better idea. He approached Winterport OIC Fern Mansel with the idea of raising a battle-tested flag over her Post Office to honor area veterans during the week preceding Veterans Day. She readily agreed, but Higgins had saved the best news for last:  He told her that the flag was sent by Thibodeau -- Mansel's older brother.

On Monday, November 7, Thibodeau's parents and family along with Winterport citizens, Town Manager Philip Pitula and postal employees attended an emotional ceremony during which Mansel raised the flag over the Winterport Post Office. 

"It was an overwhelming experience," she said afterwards.

The flag remained flying over the Post Office until Friday, Veterans Day, when it was moved to the town's Memorial Library. There it held a position of honor during Veterans Day ceremonies and then through Thanksgiving.

"It will be used to remind us of the selfless sacrifices our servicemen and women make every day to protect our country," said Commander Higgins of the well-traveled stars and stripes sent by an American hero with local roots from his dangerous post, half a world away.