Article Contributed on: 5/15/2008 11:06:26 AM
Eighth-grade Evergreen Middle School student
Jeff Sahli didn't realize the meeting in the school theater would highlight his choice to keep the flag waving at the school every day. He thought it was a chance for the eighth-grade class to show off their Ferris wheel projects.
But interim principal
Jane Sutera had other ideas.
"Jeff has been raising and lowering the flag outside the school every day - at his request. When the flag became tattered, his parents
Cindy and
Don Sahli of Evergreen, replaced it," she said.
Sutera planned a surprise honor presentation May 15 that included a letter from the 138th Fire Brigade, 2nd Artillery battalion in Iraq.
When a member of the brigade heard about Jeff's dedication, they flew a flag in his honor in Iraq. That flag was folded and mounted and presented to Jeff in a surprise ceremony at his school May 15.
His parents were told by Sutera only that Jeff was going to receive something special and they needed to be there. The family was surprised and moved by the attention.
In a preface to the presentation, Sutera told the eighth-graders, "This is about who you are and the choices you make. Some people make choices others don't notice. When the flag needed to be replaced, it was done so quietly. This is a tribute to Jeff's good citizenship and dedication."
Jeff thanked one of his buddies for helping him put up the flag each day. His parents said he plans to go to a military camp this summer.
His mother said she thought his passion, dedication and interest in the military came from his soul. Jeff goes to Elk Run Assisted Living center in Evergreen and visits with residents there.
"He watches the History Channel," his mother said.