Flags for Vets, Inc.

09/01/2026

Last week I traveled to Lafayette, LA to honor a couple of veterans and pick up this year’s MoH edition of collectors Rum.

Our 817th recipient is the father to a brother of mine and it was an honor to meet him.

Everyone welcome Carroll Robichaux Jr., USA. Sgt. Robichaux entered the service in May 1964 and was discharged in May 1970. He was a culinary creationist (Cook) assigned to HQ, 256th Engineer Battalion. He spent time in Ft. Polk, Ft. Hood and Ft. Chaffey.

When he mustered out he settled just outside of Lafayette.

08/11/2026

We honored our 815th recipient yesterday afternoon. Meet Tony Broome, USAF (ANG). SMsgt. Broome enlisted in June 1998 and is still going strong. He began his career as a crew chief on an F-16 but is now a superintendent over Maintenance with the 187th Fighter Wing. He’s also been a member if the famed 100th Fighter squadron, better known as the Red Tails or Tuskegee Airmen.

Tony has been activated to support the War on Terror 7 times. He’s spent more than his share of time in the Middle East. He’s had deployments to:
Qatar
Kuwait
Jordan
Iraq twice
Afghanistan
Korea.

Tony’s install was made possible thru a donation we made to Davis Tire Group as a giveaway promotion. We sincerely appreciate their corporate support of our mission for several years.

08/09/2026

The 814th recipient came yesterday afternoon in nearby Notasulga to John Adcock, USA/Vietnam.

Sgt. Adcock enlisted in July 1968 and was discharged in May, 1970. He was an 11B4P. That’s a different version of regular infantry…that’s because he was part of the 3rd Infantry at Ft. Myers, VA and worked in Arlington National Cemetary. He spent his enlistment burying his brothers.

Funny story how we met. We were at a local doctor’s office in the waiting room sitting across from him and his granddaughter and great grandbaby. We struck up a conversation and realized he served but didn’t have a flagpole. Well…now he does.

Thanks to Brian Strength for the sponsorship.

08/09/2026

Recently we honored our 813th and 814th recipients. Both were local, one in Beulah and the other in Notasulga.

The first is a Vietnam Marine, Jerry Williams. He entered the service in Oct. 1966 and was discharged in Oct. 1968. Cpl. Williams had two MOS’s 0311/0811. He spent most of his time in the latter. He was assigned to 4th Battalion/ 11th Marines (1st Mar. Div.).

Jerry was twice wounded in ‘67, both times by mortars. He operated a 120mm howitzer and spent most of his time forward deployed to places like Phu Bai but he ended up in Hue City fighting in the Tet Offensive in early ‘68.

Jerry’s sponsorship was taken care of by his Great grandson, Jacob Clark.

08/07/2026

For the past three years, Flags for Vets, Inc. has hosted Freedom Fest Weekend in downtown Opelika over the Veterans Day weekend to showcase our Medal of Honor recipients and honor our veterans for their service. This year, to kick off the weekend, FFV is hosting “A night with Heroes dinner/auction at the Bottling plant event center. Table sales for sponsorships and Individual tickets go on sale today. If you are a business or someone that wants to purchase a 10 seat table, please contact me. We are limited to the number of table sales as well. There are 6 VIP tables that will have a Medal of Honor recipient seated with you. There will be 14 more tables for sale at a general admission price.

Below is the link for individual tickets.

We hope to see you there!

Join us at the Freedom Fest Gala & Auction 🇺🇸🎟️, an evening dedicated to honoring veterans and supporting the mission of Flags For Vets Inc: providing…

07/20/2026

Today we honored another local veteran, our 812th recipient, Brian Carter USA(NG).

Brian enlisted in Jan. 2007 and was honorably discharged in June 2018. SSGT Carter was a 31B (MP) assigned to the 214th MP and was deployed to Iraq from June 2010-June 2011. His AOR was Mosul, the hotbed of insurgency. It was there that he earned his CIB.

After Brian returned stateside, he was assigned to recruiting duty until his discharge.

Brian was sponsored by his dad, Jack Carter.

07/19/2026

Recipient #811 was handled by one of my chapters in TX. Thanks to Bobby Withrop for honoring Efrain Jimenez, USA. He enlisted in May 2002 and retired June 2025 at the rank of Major, his MOS(s) were 92A (Enlisted) and 70K (Officer).

He was assigned to: B Co/82nd FSB/82d ABN DIV; 978th MP Co; 212th FiB; HHC/1-35AR & C Co/47th BSB/2IBCT/1AD; Office of the Surgeon General; US Army Element-South Trp Cmd; DiLorenzo Tricare Health Clinic-Pentagon; C Co/188th Med Bn/32d Med Bde; Fielded Force Integration Directorate/32d Med Bde; Div Surgeon/25ID, US Army North (5th Army).

He deployed to OIF (Aug 03-Apr 04
(Fallujah)/Dec 05-Dec 06 (Samarra)/Jun 08-Jul 09 (Baghdad).

He was sponsored by Shawn Lewis, a brother of mine who served with me in AFG.

07/19/2026

Our next member to the FFV family is #810, William “Bill” Bilderback, USA. Bill enlisted in July 1974 and was discharged in July 1977. Sgt. Bilderback was an 11B assigned to the Berlin Brigade, Berlin Germany.

He spent nearly all of his enlistment at the famous Spandau barracks, known for housing POWs from WWII.

Bill is the father of Joe Van ( #809) and was nominated by Joe and sponsored by Mike Rabren also.

07/19/2026

Skipping ahead to recipient #809 (still waiting on info for #808).

Everyone welcome our 809th veteran to the FFV family, Joe Van, USA.

Joe enlisted in Sept. 2009 and was discharged in May 2015. He served as an 11B and 89D with 2/2 10th Mountain based out of Ft. Drum.

Specialist Van deployed to AFG in 2010 and his unit operated out of Bagram AB in Eastern AFG around the J-bad AOR.

Joe came home to open his own business called Out of Regz, a beard care company that I’m a proud customer of. He was introduced to me thru Taylor Smits, another business owner of a company called Right Wing Naturals, a soap company for which I’m a loyal customer of (yes I do shower once a week).

Give them a look and try their products! Both are true patriots.

07/19/2026

Recipient #807 belongs to Edward Jackson, USAF (Ret.) Lt. Col. Jackson entered active duty (commissioned) in Oct. 1995 and retired in Feb. 2021. His MOS was 11N3B but in layman terms…he flew C-130s and C-17s. Any of us that served know just how important the 130s are. They are literally the workhorse of the Air Force. Ed was attached to the 158th Airlift Squadron from ‘97-‘2000, the 758th Airlift Squadron from 2000-2021. He flew mostly out of Ramstein, Germany.

There were too many missions to count going in/out of Afghanistan and Iraq. He developed a fondness for jarheads (Marines) because he gave them rides all the time. Way back in the day he flew missions from Bosnia/Kosovo.

Ed got introduced to me thru Jody Steinberger (a past recipient in Pittsburgh).

He was sponsored by Glenn Macapagal and GMAC consulting.