Flags for Vets, Inc.

Flags for Vets, Inc. Flags for Vets was formed on 2017 to honor our Nation’s veterans for their faithful service.
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Today we honored another local veteran, our 812th recipient, Brian Carter USA(NG).Brian enlisted in Jan. 2007 and was ho...
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.

Recipient #811 was handled by one of my chapters in TX. Thanks to Bobby Withrop for honoring Efrain Jimenez, USA. He ...
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.

Our next member to the FFV family is #810, William “Bill” Bilderback, USA. Bill enlisted in July 1974 and was discharg...
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.

Skipping ahead to recipient #809 (still waiting on info for #808).Everyone welcome our 809th veteran to the FFV family...
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.

Recipient #807 belongs to Edward Jackson, USAF (Ret.) Lt. Col. Jackson entered active duty (commissioned) in Oct. 199...
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.

I’m way behind on my recipient list so today is catch up day.Everyone meet our 806th addition to the Flags for Vets fami...
07/19/2026

I’m way behind on my recipient list so today is catch up day.

Everyone meet our 806th addition to the Flags for Vets family, Ryan Bekowitz, USA.

Ryan is currently still serving his country. He entered the service in Sept. 2007 and is a SFC (E-7). He’s occupied several MOSs over the past 19 years, including: 15G, 15R, 15T, 92F and 56M. He works out of JFHQ (Alabama National Guard in Montgomery).

He deployed to Afghanistan in support of Operation Enduring Freedom in 2011/2012.

Ryan was sponsored by Harmon Mechanical and Forrest Harmon.

Our 803rd recipient is U.S. Army veteran, Jonathan Stephen. He enlisted in Feb. 2005 and was discharged in Dec. 2017. ...
06/10/2026

Our 803rd recipient is U.S. Army veteran, Jonathan Stephen. He enlisted in Feb. 2005 and was discharged in Dec. 2017. SSG Stephen was a 92F (fueler) assigned to the 1st ID, 2/1 AAB (Advise/assist Brigade) and was deployed 4 times in support of the Global War on Terror. 2006 to Iraq with 4th ID, 2009 to Afghanistan with the 101st, and 2011/2015 back to Iraq with 1st ID.

One of the things he’s most proud of though is his selection of Volunteer of the year in 2014 while stationed at Ft. Riley because of his coaching the youth thru sports.

A small side note, I met Jonathan at the fuel pumps at Sam’s and offered to honor him for his service after seeing his military service tag on his truck.

We’ve turned the corner and headed down the road to 900 veterans honored. The first two of these ( #801 and 802) are a ...
06/10/2026

We’ve turned the corner and headed down the road to 900 veterans honored. The first two of these ( #801 and 802) are a father and son. Both served in the U.S. Army. One in the War on Terror and one in the Cold War era.

Meet Timothy and James Hicks. First, is SPC. Timothy Hicks. Tim enlisted in July 1997 and was discharged in July 2007. He was a 13B (Artillery) assigned to HSB, 1st Battalion 78th FA. He was awarded a Bronze Star with “V”, along with AC (3) AAM (2), Presidential Unit Citation and various other campaign medals.

We’re still collecting information on his dad so I’ll post his separately.

Thanks to our WVa chapter of BJ Willis and Mike Honaker (WVa Inspector General and Ret. VA Trooper)for taking care of these two for me.

Thanks also to Shirley Blankenship for the sponsorship!

05/27/2026

Another milestone achieved…800 veterans since FFV began in January, 2017. It feels incredible every time I pass that next century mark.

This one is special too. We honored the legacy and life of John Howard Ledbetter, USA/WWII who gave his life in Anzio, Italy securing our freedoms. It’s no coincidence that we spent Memorial Day to do this. That’s what this day is about.

John’s great nephew, Rex Ledbetter and I met by chance in the Home Depot parking lot a few weeks ago. It’s so cool how God puts those in your path sometimes.

Here’s a link to PVT. Ledbetter’s story.

Our last two recipients over the weekend were honored on Memorial Day. This first of these two is John Hammonds, USAF (...
05/27/2026

Our last two recipients over the weekend were honored on Memorial Day. This first of these two is John Hammonds, USAF (Ret), our 799th veteran.

John enlisted in Nov. 1973 and retired in Dec. 1993. TSgt. Hammonds was a 20270 (Signal Intelligence Analyst) attached to the Electronic Signal Command early in his career.

He did deployments to Europe, Middle East and Asia. He participated in Operation Desert Storm with the 6975th Electronic Security Squadron.

Once he retired from the military, he continued his service to his community as a police officer with the Montgomery Airport where he retired as the Interim Police Chief. He currently works part time at the Tallapoosa County SO.

Address

P. O. Box 1348
Auburn, AL
36831

Telephone

+18177570691

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