MEDIA ADVISORY: United States Honor Flag to Arrive in Nashville Wednesday

Tuesday, March 10, 2009 | 11:36am

NASHVILLE --- The United States Honor Flag will arrive in Nashville on Wednesday, March 11, 2009, to honor recently fallen TBI agent Lt. Eric Emmert and Sequatchie County Sheriff’s deputy, Lt. David Gann. Both men were killed last month in the line of duty.  The U.S. Honor Flag will fly over the Tennessee State Capitol honoring all fallen heroes and those currently serving our communities and protecting our lives, homes and our country.  This is the first time the U.S. Honor Flag has flown in the State of Tennessee. 

WHO:     United States Honor Flag, Tennessee Highway Patrol Honor Guard, Representatives from the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation, the Tennessee Army National Guard and the Nashville International Airport Department of Public Safety

WHAT:   U.S. Honor Flag Arrives at Nashville International Airport to Water Cannon Salute
 
WHEN:   Wednesday, March 11, 2009
             1:00 p.m. CDT
         
WHERE:  Nashville International Airport
               Concourse C
 
On Wednesday, American Airlines will fly the U.S. Honor Flag from Miami, Florida, to Nashville. The flag will travel in the cockpit with the pilot during the flight, and a water-cannon salute will greet the airplane when it touches down at Nashville International Airport.  Once it arrives at the gate, the pilot will present the flag to the Tennessee Highway Patrol Honor Guard. A motorcade will escort the flag to the State Capitol in downtown Nashville where it will fly at half staff. 
 
1st Lieutenant William Eric Emmert, a TBI Special Agent and former Tennessee State Trooper, was killed in action February 24, 2009, while serving his country in Mosul, Iraq.
 
Lieutenant David Charles Gann, a member of the Sequatchie County Sheriff’s Department, was killed in an automobile crash while on duty on February 17, 2009.
 
Media wishing to attend the arrival of the U.S. Honor Flag should contact Emily Richard with the Nashville Airport Authority at 615-308-2123. All media should park in short-term parking and arrive at the airport by 12:40 p.m. to be escorted through the security checkpoint to Concourse C.

BACKGROUND:
The U.S. Honor Flag originally flew over the Capitol Building of the State of Texas.  Shortly after the September 11, 2001, attacks, the flag was sent to New York City, where it was flown at ground zero during the recovery efforts and at memorial services.  Family members requested the flag be used for all other service men and women around the nation, honoring them just as the heroes of 9/11 were honored.  Since then, the U.S. Honor Flag has been flown to cities all around the nation, and in October 2004, the flag traveled to Kuwait, Qatar and Iraq.

For more information about the U.S. Honor Flag, contact The Honor Network President Chris Heisler at 512-743-5819 or visit the organization’s website at www.USHonorFlag.org.

The Tennessee Department of Safety’s mission is (www.tennessee.gov/safety) to ensure the safety and general welfare of the public.  The department encompasses the Tennessee Highway Patrol, Office of Homeland Security and Driver License Services. General areas of responsibility include law enforcement, safety education, motorist services and terrorism prevention.

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