Above: Brig. Gen. Stewart Rodeheaver presents flag to Gov. Sonny Perdue. At Right, the General and the Governor display the flag (National Guard Photos)

48th Battle Flag Returns To Georgia

The 48th BCT battle flag that flew over Camp Stryker in Baghdad and during memorial services for the fallen now has a final resting place as part of a display honoring Georgia’s military men and women in Georgia's Capitol. Brigadier Gen. Stewart Rodeheaver, 48th Brigade Combat Team commander, presented the flag to Governor Sonny Perdue at a Capitol ceremony May 30.

Rodeheaver told an audience of more than 100 Georgia Army and Air National Guardsmen and state and local officials, that in bringing the 48th’s battle standard to the Capitol, he was fulfilling a request Gov. Perdue made of him shortly before the brigade deployed in May 2005 to support Operation Iraqi Freedom.

“I have carried this flag in my backpack for 18 months, so I did shake the dirt and dust off and washed it before bringing it here today,” said Rodeheaver, as he stood and held the carefully folded, navy blue and red standard bearing the brigade’s lighting bolt patch close to him.

“I will tell you that we flew it when we first got to Iraq over Victory Base (Baghdad). Then, when we were assigned the mission of securing Camp Stryker, we proudly flew it there. We also flew it in the Triangle of Death,” he continued. The infamous Triangle of Death is the area south of Baghdad made up of the towns and villages of Mahmudiyah, Lutufiyah and Yusufiyah.

The flag also flew during at the memorial services for each of the 26 Soldiers the 48th lost during its deployment, the general added.

Turning to Gov. Perdue, Rodeheaver said, “The 48th Brigade Combat Team has all people back from Iraq, all its equipment is accounted for. And with that, Sir, I present this battle flag to you on behalf of the Soldiers of the 48th BCT and all of the soldiers of the Army National Guard.

“We are mission complete and I return this battle flag to you.”

Stepping forward, Perdue accepted the banner declaring that “It is with great happiness and pride," that I accept this flag on behalf of the people of Georgia. It will become part of the state’s flag collection and will be displayed in our Hall of Valor for all Georgians to see and appreciate.”

That collection includes an American flag, the Georgia state flag, a Blue Star banner “representing the hope and pride of our servicemen and women serving overseas,” Perdue said, and a Gold Star banner “that signifies the sacrifice that our brave men and women make for our freedom and liberty,” he added.

Moving to the podium the governor recalled the pride -- and the sadness -- he felt the day he said farewell to the 48th last year at Fort Stewart. 

“I’ve never liked tail lights,” said an emotional Perdue. “And I didn’t like the tail lights then. To see you all go affected me like nothing before, but I love the reunion and having you back.”

But as much as this was an emotional reunion for Perdue, it also was a proud moment as he went on to list the brigade’s accomplishments during its deployment.

He concluded saying, “Job well done, I’m proud of you. We are grateful for those of you present today, but we hold dear in our hearts and prayers the families who lost a loved one in service. Those who have fallen paid the ultimate sacrifice in freedom’s name."

“While we can never fully understand their grief,” he continued. “We will not allow them to grieve alone. For it is our solemn duty to never, never forget those who dies so that we may be free.”