Flags for Vets, Inc.

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Flags for Vets, Inc.

Flags for Vets was formed on 2017 to honor our Nation’s veterans for their faithful service.

04/12/2026

Our last recipient today and our 784th addition to the FFV family is Brent Deavers, USN.

Brent enlisted in August 1993 and was honorably discharged in July 1995. ABF Deavers was assigned to the USS George Washington CVN-73, Aircraft Carrier. He was aboard on her maiden voyage and sailed in both the Atlantic and Mediterranean.

After he was discharged from active duty he joined the Alabama Air National Guard from Feb. 1996 to Feb. 2001.

His installation was sponsored by Tommy Carter (a retired LCSO Deputy).

04/12/2026

Today we traveled to Notasulga, Wetumpka and Prattville to honor three more recipients with beautiful 20’ lighted flagpoles.

The first of these three and our 782nd veteran is Heath Marshall, USA.

Heath enlisted in January 1990 and was honorably discharged in January 1993. Specialist Marshall was assigned to Alpha Company, 3rd ID as an 11B (infantry) and stationed at Ft. McNair, DC.

His install was sponsored by Michael Abernathy, a Lt. with Auburn PD. He’s the son of a career Police Officer and the grandson of another career Police Officer, Sgt. Rusty Abernathy (and my brother I worked with for years).

04/12/2026

Where are all my Recon guys…

We honored an OG Reconnaissance Marine from Vietnam last week. Our 781st recipient is John Meredith, USMC.

Ssgt. Meredith enlisted in March 1962 and was discharged in July 1966. He was attached to 3rd Recon and spent 13 months in-country.

His AOR was DaNang, Phu Bai and Hue City. So many of his ops was small unit stuff and he spent significant time in places nobody had heard of.

It’s only the second Recon Marine I’ve met from Vietnam. Like so many these days, he’s quiet, unassuming and humble. Make no mistake, this man was/is the epitome of a Marine. He had has 3rd Recon hat on when we introduced ourselves but if it wasn’t for that, I’d have never picked him out as one.

Thanks to his son, Steve for sponsoring his install.

04/04/2026

Our 779th recipient is Jamel Griffin, USA. Specialist Griffin enlisted in Aug. 2008 at the height of the Iraq and Afghanistan wars, which says a lot about his commitment to his country and one of the thousands that wrote a check and left the amount blank freedom. He was discharged in Feb. 2012.

He was a 14J (Sentinel Radar Operator) assigned to the 1st ID.

He deployed in Support of Operation Iraqi Freedom and was sent to Basra in 2010.

Jamel’s installation was paid for by Guy Martin, himself a recipient of a flagpole ( #771).

04/04/2026

Our 777th recipient is a posthumous installation to honor the service of Milton Helfand, USMC. Gunny Helfand enlisted in April 1966 and was discharged from active duty in Mar. 1972.

Milton was a 3071 (supply maintenance) but once he got in country in 1966, he was a rifleman and did three tours earning his campaign ribbons including the Combat Action Ribbon, the Navy Init Citation and the Vietnam Cross of Gallantry.

In 6 short years he earned the rank of Gunnery Sgt.

SFMF

His installation was sponsored by his daughter, Vikki Reed.

04/04/2026

I’ve got several recipients to catch up on today. I’ll start with our 776th veteran, Travis Perdue, USA.

Travis enlisted in Aug. 1991 and was medically discharged from wounds received from an IED in Fallujah, Iraq. SSGT Perdue’s a 62B (mechanic) attached to the 44th combat engineer’s of the 2nd ID.

His other deployments were Korea in ‘04 and Ramadi in ‘04-‘05 before his deployment to Fallujah where they re-took the city with the Marines.

Thanks to Dori Pelley for the sponsorship.

03/15/2026

Me and my trusty sidekick slipped over to Auburn on a gorgeous Saturday afternoon to honor our 775th recipient, Alan Fox USN/USCG.

Alan began his career in August 1983 when he enlisted in the U.S. Navy. He was a Quartermaster 2nd Class (E-5) stationed aboard the USS Yorktown. He sailed in support of he Libyan conflict and was discharged in June 1987 and continued in the reserves for several years.

He felt the call to serve again and enlisted in the USCG in February 2001 as a Quartermaster and Operational Specialist and retired as a Senior Chief (E-8) in July 2019. He served for 18 years protecting our borders in duty stations such as Key West, Alaska and San Diego aboard the USCG Mohawk.

Special thanks to two guys, Dwayne Hallman (himself a Coastie) for the sponsorship and to Guy Martin ( #771) for the company.

03/10/2026

Our last recipient was honored yesterday afternoon. Meet John Grey, USA. Specialist Grey is our 774th veteran joining the FFV family.

His installation was attended by Guy Martin, himself a recent honoree ( #771) because I do require adult supervision most days.

John enlisted in July 2010 and was discharged in January 2016.

He was a 25B (IT/Satellite repair). He was assigned to 3rd ID when he was stationed CONUS but attached to the 101st when he was down range at Bagram, AFG.

He came back home, went to Barber school and now has a successful barber business here locally.

03/10/2026

Our third recipient from this past weekend is Steve Sasser, USAF (R). Steve has two brothers who also served on active duty, both deployed to Vietnam that we honored at the same time.

We have more to post about his service time (and his brothers) but we’re still gathering information. I wanted to get his install posted with the others though.

Welcome #773 to the FFV family.

Thanks Diane Brennan for the sponsorship.

03/10/2026

Our second recipient from this past weekend is Damon Wallace, USAF/GA NG.

Damon began his career in August 1967. He was sent to Vietnam where he was stationed at DaNang and later in Udorn, Thailand with the 405th Fighter Wing working on F102-As. He was discharged in June 1971.

He joined the GA Air National Guard in August 1981 and retired nearly 23 years later in May 2004 as a Master Sergeant (E-8). His MOS was originally listed as a Radar Tech and he worked on F-105s, F-4s, F-15s, B1-b’s, and J-STARS (AWACs) supporting Operation Desert Shield/Storm.

His installation was sponsored by Haley Geiger.

03/10/2026

I’m a little behind on posting about some recent recipients in the area but please help me welcome the first of these:

Our 771st veteran joining the FFV is Guy Martin, USN.

Guy enlisted in Sept. 1988 and was discharged in June 1992 as an Operational Specialist assigned to the USS Whitney Island LSD-41. He was on three particular deployments Panama, Desert Shield/Storm and Liberia.

Guy was also a boat operator for SEAL Team operations.

Guy’s install was sponsored by Donna Guidry.

Also, as Guy previously announced, he’s currently battling a different enemy…cancer. Please Keep him in your prayers. We were honored to gift this to him as our way of saying thank you and hang tough!

Address

P. O. Box 1348
Auburn, AL
36831

Telephone

+18177570691

Website

http://www.flagsforvets.us/

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