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Show HILLTOP TIMES TIMES December 18, 2008 A gift of remembrance Special flag commemorating Sept. 11 donated to AFRC BY LEE ANNE HENSLEY Hilltop Times staff T he Airman and Family Readiness Center has received many gifts from their honorary commanders Bob and Dianne Long, and this holiday season the AFRC received a gift that symbolizes honor and remembrance of a pivotal moment in American history. "V Tech. Sgt. Jennifer Lyon, coordinator of the AFJ<C Hearts Apart program, unwrapped the present from the Longs the afternoon of Dec. 10 and removed an unusual-looking flag. . ;; The Freedom Flag, with its solitary white star surrounded by five white bars in a pentagon shape against a blue background and flanked by fed and , • white stripes, was created by a business owner in Virginia nine days after the attacks on Sept. 11,2001. The business owner, Richard Melito, intended to create a display symbol that would remind his patrons of the tragedies and triumphs that occurred on that fateful day. Sixteen months later, the Freedom Flag was designated as Virginia's official symbol of remembrance honoring the victims and heroes of 9/11, and flying the flag below the American flag on Patriot Day has become a tradition at many schools across the country. Since then, the Freedom Flag Foundation was formed and launched the Freedom Flag Project to get all American schools to formalize an annual tradition of raising and flying the Freedom Flag below the American Flag every Sept. 11 to keep the promise to "never forget." "We contacted Chip Harris, who is the CEO of the foundation, and asked him if we could sponsor the Airman and Family Readiness Center," explained Bob Long. "He thought it was an outstanding idea. Chip Harris has gone on to sponsor many military installations, police organizations and fire departments, so it has taken on a life of its own." AFRC received a flag, several Freedom Flag lapel pins and a certificate of official sponsorship from the Longs. Carole Beasley, director of the AFRC, said they will frame the flag and are planning to have Col. Linda Medler, 75th Air Base Wing commander, unveil it once it is hung. "At that time we are going to present Col. Medler a flag and also Mr. Bryner from the elementary school one as well," Beasley said. The Longs are planning to incorporate the Freedom Flag Project in Utah schools and law enforcement agencies as well as other installations nationwide. "Our friendsirom all over the country have received these pins and we are hoping that they spread the word about this educational program," said Dianne Long. .f Dianne said the Freedom Flag Project is appropriate for military installations since a lot of military men and women joined after the events of Sept. 11. The project aims to promote understanding among younger citizens of the rights, responsibilities, duties and sacrifices required to maintain a free society, according to the Freedom Flag Foundation's Web site. Sgt. Sweitzer of the 388th Equipment Maintenance Squadron is also helping to spread the word about the Freedom Flag Project at Hill Air Force Base. Sweitzer displays the Freedom Flag lapel pin on his badge lanyard and often gets many inquiries about the unusual flag. "I've had people see my pin and ask, 'What is that, is that the (American) flag?'" Sweitzer said. Sweitzer also, framed a printed explanation of the flag's symbolism and displays it in his office. "I have others come into my office and they read (about the project), and one person said, 'I never knew that and I'm from Virginia.' In EMS, it is getting a lot of publicity." The Longs wanted to give the flag and lapel pins to the AFRC in reciprocity of what the center has given to the Airmen at Hill AFB. "This group here has helped our troops so much throughout the past few years and we wanted to give back to (the Airman and Family Readiness Center)," Dianne said. "You have no idea of how fortunate the Airmen are at Hill Air Force Base because of your generosity," responded Beth Freitas, AFRC community readiness consultant. "We are able to provide above and beyond what any other base could even dream of doing because (the Longs) get the word out to the community." Now the Longs would like to spread the word about the Freedom Flag Project, as well. "It's nice that this moves forward to reach other people, all the way from Virginia!" Bob said. Above, Tech. Sgt. Jennifer Lyon, Airman and Family Readiness Center Hearts Apart program manager, and Beth Freitas, AFRC community readiness consultant, hold up the Freedom Flag the AFRC was given by Logstar honorary commanders Bob and Dianne Long on Dec. 10. Left, Bob and Dianne Long hold a certificate that recognizes their sponsorship of the Airman and Family Readiness Center's articipation in the Freedom Flag Project. LEE ANNE HENSLEY Hilltop Times Blue Background: all Americans united together for freedom the bloodshed of those who perished at the Pentagon and the crew and passengers on American Airlines Flight 77 Two Broad Red Stripes: White Star: the Twin Towers and the bloodshed of the people who perished at the World Trade Center and on American Airlines Right 11 and United Airlines Flight 175 all who lived and died for freedom Five White Bars: the Pentagon and the organized protection of our freedom Three White Stripes: the rescue workers, firefighters, police officers, Port Authority employees, and others who worked tirelessly during and after the terrorist attacks Bottom Red Stripe: the bloodshed of the crew and passengers who perished on United Airlines Flight 93 in Pennsylvania These actions have brought all systems involved to an INFOCON 3 status — critical systems are also being monitored more closely with added emphasis being focused on system backups. From page 1 Allowed removable devices are those that can be described as "spinning media," CD-R/Ws, re"The user must understand that the computer writable DVDs, DVD-Rs, floppy disks, as well as he uses on base is not his to do with as he pleases non-flash USB "hard drives." All of these require — it is part of a national weapon system," the Inscanning for viruses before each use. formation Assurance office reminds DoD workers For mission critical systems, the following in an e-mail directive made available to the Hillthree options are available: the use of approved top Times. "The rules for computer use are clear non-flash media as described above, the use of and spelled out in detail in AFI 33-202vl." computers with non-Windows operating systems As a result of these issued DoD directives, cur(Linux, Unix or Macintosh) or the set up of a rently all removable flash media are prohibited standalone computer meeting AFNETOPS refor use in DoD Windows-based computers. Among quirements including the following criteria: these are thumbdrives, camera flash cards, memo• The computer^ virus profiles are updated ry sticks, iPods and Zunes. manually every day. BAN Top Red Stripe: • The computer meets all Space Technology Interdependency Group requirements as well as those under the Time Compliance Network Order and standard desktop configuration. • The computer must be approved by the local System Security Approval Authority. The computer must also be covered by a certification and accreditation package (a long and involved process doublechecking Information Technology security and assets of a particular agency). "The Department of Defense's Global Information Grid includes more than 7,000 local- and regional-area networks and approximately 7 million individual computers," said Lt. Col. Eric Butterbaugh,.an Air Force spokesman as quoted in the Stars and Stripes report. The Hill AFB Information Assurance Office contributed substantial material to this article. |