OCONTO, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) – The stars and stripes can mean different things to different people.
For one local veteran, it’s a symbol of home — and of hope. And one Northeast Wisconsin organization is making sure she never has to look far to see our flag flying.
When shoulder and back injuries — some suffered in combat– forced Army National Guard Staff Sergeant Priscilla Reyes into an abrupt medical retirement in 2020, her homecoming didn’t feel like a triumphant one.
“I came home alone. I didn’t come home with my unit… I didn’t have anybody at the airport. I didn’t have anybody waiting for me besides my family. I didn’t have a whole lot of support when I first got back,” Reyes said.
But there was one symbol that she remembers giving her hope.
“The first flags that I saw after entering Green Bay really touched my heart. It really made me break down and cry. It was emotional knowing that I was home, knowing that I was safe and sound again,” Reyes said.
Now, thanks to Green Bay veteran organization Helping Out Our American Heroes — known as HOOAH — and local business Fly Me Flag, Reyes won’t ever have to go far to find that hope.
In a matter of about an hour, a flag pole was erected on the lawn of her Oconto home. To go with it, a brand new American flag and U.S. Army flag, flying proud against a perfect blue sky.
HOOAH chooses five Wisconsin veterans each year for the program. Once the recipients are chosen, Fly Me Flag owner Robert Stewart gets to call the veterans to set up an install.
“That conversation is usually pretty awesome. Most of our vets that are getting flag poles don’t know it in advance. So when we call them, they’re usually very surprised, first of all. And then they’re wanting to know how soon we can get out there to do that for them. They’re always very excited about that.”
And for Reyes, there’s a little extra excitement. She was in the color guard when she served — a group specifically dedicated to the display and protection of our flag. She’s ready to get back to those responsibilities and that routine.
“I’m very excited. Just gives me a new sense of purpose and pride,” Reyes said.
No detail was skipped. United States Flag Code stipulates that the flag must be lit at night — and this pole comes with solar-powered LED lights at the top, making sure Old Glory flies for all to see at all hours of the day.
Reyes says she’s in a much better place now. Proud of her achievements, proud of her 14 years of service — and proud to leave a dark time in her life behind, when all of her accomplishments and keepsakes were also kept in the dark, in storage, hidden away.
“Sense of pride, sense of security, and just happiness. I’m very fortunate to live in a community of other veterans that live nearby and I hope that they also feel a sense of pride when they see it as well,” Reyes said.
Fly Me Flag also says they’re starting a program to send a new U.S. flag each year to veterans they’ve helped to ensure old ones can be properly retired.
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