• I’m here in Perry, GA for the next week and took advantage of the location to travel down to Kingsland, GA yesterday to honor a couple more vets on the list. Meet the first of those two, Jon Fargnoli USMC. Sgt. Fargnoli entered the service in Dec. 1999 and was discharged in Dec. 2003. He was an 0311 (infantry) assigned to 1st Battalion, 8th Marines (1/8). He deployed to Iraq in the initial invasion in Jan. 2003 spending his time in Mosul until he rotated home in Dec. Jon re-entered the service again in May 2008 and was discharged in Dec. 2016. He spent his next enlistment as an MP assigned to HQ support Battalion at LeJeune and Camp Butler. Thanks to our partner Flagpoles Etc for another beautiful kit. #marchingto400now #honoringthosewhoservedffv #flagsforvets1 #flagpolesetc
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    I’m here in Perry, GA for the next week and took advantage of the location to travel down to Kingsland, GA yesterday to honor a couple more vets on the list. Meet the first of those two, Jon Fargnoli USMC. Sgt. Fargnoli entered the service in Dec. 1999 and was discharged in Dec. 2003. He was an 0311 (infantry) assigned to 1st Battalion, 8th Marines (1/8). He deployed to Iraq in the initial invasion in Jan. 2003 spending his time in Mosul until he rotated home in Dec. Jon re-entered the service again in May 2008 and was discharged in Dec. 2016. He spent his next enlistment as an MP assigned to HQ support Battalion at LeJeune and Camp Butler. Thanks to our partner Flagpoles Etc for another beautiful kit. #marchingto400now #honoringthosewhoservedffv #flagsforvets1 #flagpolesetc
  • Come out and enjoy a delicious BBQ dinner and listen to Our speaker, Don Graves, USMC, Iwo Jima survivor followed immediately afterwards by a simultaneous live and online auction presented by famous auctioneer Myers Jackson. #honoringthosewhoservedffv #flagsforvets1 #myersjackson #auctiontimeauctiiontimeffv
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    Come out and enjoy a delicious BBQ dinner and listen to Our speaker, Don Graves, USMC, Iwo Jima survivor followed immediately afterwards by a simultaneous live and online auction presented by famous auctioneer Myers Jackson. #honoringthosewhoservedffv #flagsforvets1 #myersjackson #auctiontimeauctiiontimeffv
  • Three more members added to the FFV family today. Traveled down to Florida and back up thru Enterprise and finally Midland City. Eight veterans since Friday and still one more to go tomorrow. Too tired to post individual stories but I’ll try to get to them this week. Welcome Kenneth Williams, U.S. Army (WoT), Tom Ferguson, U.S. Army (Vietnam/Desert Storm) and David Yates, U.S. Air Force. Thanks, as usual to our partner Flagpoles Etc. and to Corey Marmaduke of Bad Boys Bonds for the sponsorship. #whewimtiredffv #marchingto400now #flagpolesetc #badboysbondcompany
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    Three more members added to the FFV family today. Traveled down to Florida and back up thru Enterprise and finally Midland City. Eight veterans since Friday and still one more to go tomorrow. Too tired to post individual stories but I’ll try to get to them this week. Welcome Kenneth Williams, U.S. Army (WoT), Tom Ferguson, U.S. Army (Vietnam/Desert Storm) and David Yates, U.S. Air Force. Thanks, as usual to our partner Flagpoles Etc. and to Corey Marmaduke of Bad Boys Bonds for the sponsorship. #whewimtiredffv #marchingto400now #flagpolesetc #badboysbondcompany
  • Going a little out of order but our #350th recipient from today is Tarell Whatley, USAF. SSGT Whatley entered the service in Feb. 1987 and was discharged in April 1991. He was a Personnel Specialist assigned to 1st SOS (Air Force Special Operations Command) at Clark AFB, Philippines. But Tarell’s install isn’t just because of his selfless service, he survived the Tornado that claimed 23 lives here on March 3rd. His trailer wasn’t touched however he had dozens of trees fall all around him without anything more than a broken window. He was protected by God and he knows it. It was an honor to gift him a flagpole and spend time with him this afternoon. #leecountystrong #honoringthosewhoservedffv #halfwayto400flags
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    Going a little out of order but our #350th recipient from today is Tarell Whatley, USAF. SSGT Whatley entered the service in Feb. 1987 and was discharged in April 1991. He was a Personnel Specialist assigned to 1st SOS (Air Force Special Operations Command) at Clark AFB, Philippines. But Tarell’s install isn’t just because of his selfless service, he survived the Tornado that claimed 23 lives here on March 3rd. His trailer wasn’t touched however he had dozens of trees fall all around him without anything more than a broken window. He was protected by God and he knows it. It was an honor to gift him a flagpole and spend time with him this afternoon. #leecountystrong #honoringthosewhoservedffv #halfwayto400flags
  • Our Florida Chapter honored a veteran this past Monday. Meet George Wilmot, U.S. Army from Yulee, FL. George entered the service two times...the first was Dec. 1990 to July 2001 and then again from Oct. 2007 to March 2013. Sgt. Wilmot spent time in several units throughout his career. He began with the 3rd and 24th IDs and 1st Cav. His last assignment was back with 3rd ID in Ft. Stewart. He was wounded in action in Nov. 2009 while deployed in Iraq. Special thanks to Chris “Moose” Carlson and his buddy for the help! #floridachapterrocks! #honoringthosewhoservedffv #marchingto400now #thanksmoose #semperfiffv
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    Our Florida Chapter honored a veteran this past Monday. Meet George Wilmot, U.S. Army from Yulee, FL. George entered the service two times...the first was Dec. 1990 to July 2001 and then again from Oct. 2007 to March 2013. Sgt. Wilmot spent time in several units throughout his career. He began with the 3rd and 24th IDs and 1st Cav. His last assignment was back with 3rd ID in Ft. Stewart. He was wounded in action in Nov. 2009 while deployed in Iraq. Special thanks to Chris “Moose” Carlson and his buddy for the help! #floridachapterrocks! #honoringthosewhoservedffv #marchingto400now #thanksmoose #semperfiffv
  • What better way to spend Armed Forces Day than to put up flagpoles. We hit 3 of the 5 branches of service including 2 WWII veterans. 5 more members added to the FFV family. 3 more tomorrow and another one planned for Monday. Gives us 9 in 3 days. Busy weekend for sure. Welcome, Buck Marsh U.S. Army WW II, Jim Wilson, USMC WW II, Billy Roberts, U.S. Army, Joe Race (and his wife (Elizabeth) USAF, and Tarell Whatley, USAF. I’ll post individual stories later. Thanks to Dr. Blake Busbin for the sponsorship of Buck Marsh and for Jennifer Roberts for the sponsorship of her husband Billy. Also thanks to our partner Flagpoles Etc. for the beautiful flagpole kits. After Monday, I’m out of kits though. I need donations to order the next shipment. I still have more than 100 on a waiting list.
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    What better way to spend Armed Forces Day than to put up flagpoles. We hit 3 of the 5 branches of service including 2 WWII veterans. 5 more members added to the FFV family. 3 more tomorrow and another one planned for Monday. Gives us 9 in 3 days. Busy weekend for sure. Welcome, Buck Marsh U.S. Army WW II, Jim Wilson, USMC WW II, Billy Roberts, U.S. Army, Joe Race (and his wife (Elizabeth) USAF, and Tarell Whatley, USAF. I’ll post individual stories later. Thanks to Dr. Blake Busbin for the sponsorship of Buck Marsh and for Jennifer Roberts for the sponsorship of her husband Billy. Also thanks to our partner Flagpoles Etc. for the beautiful flagpole kits. After Monday, I’m out of kits though. I need donations to order the next shipment. I still have more than 100 on a waiting list.
  • Out next newest member to the FFV family is Fred Copeland, U.S. Army. Sgt. Copeland entered the service in April 1969 and was discharged in May 1971. He was sent to Vietnam in Aug. 1969 and was assigned to the HQ command as a door gunner on a Huey UH-1. He flew missions all over the country and was wounded in action in Aug. 1970. He was awarded the Purple Heart for his injuries. Fred was sponsored by his son, Bubba Copeland, Mayor of Smiths Station. Thanks to our partner Flagpoles Etc.
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    Out next newest member to the FFV family is Fred Copeland, U.S. Army. Sgt. Copeland entered the service in April 1969 and was discharged in May 1971. He was sent to Vietnam in Aug. 1969 and was assigned to the HQ command as a door gunner on a Huey UH-1. He flew missions all over the country and was wounded in action in Aug. 1970. He was awarded the Purple Heart for his injuries. Fred was sponsored by his son, Bubba Copeland, Mayor of Smiths Station. Thanks to our partner Flagpoles Etc.
  • I need to catch up on a few more veterans we honored last week. Two of them were local installs but we had another one honored by our Merritt Island, FL chapter too. First meet Ronald Sebastian, U.S. Army (Ret.). SFC Sebastian entered the service in Feb. 1964 and retired after 21 years in Mar. 1985. Ronald was in Transportation and was attached to the 69 Transportation Battalion. He was sent to Vietnam and spent 18 months (67’-68’) driving and transporting materials, supplies and ammo all over the country. Ronald was nominated by Samuel Rhodes Sr. Owner of Warrior Outreach and he helped with the install. Thanks to our partner, Flagpoles Etc for the beautiful flagpole kit. #honoringthosewhoservedffv #flagsforvets1 #flagpolesetc #marchingto400now
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    I need to catch up on a few more veterans we honored last week. Two of them were local installs but we had another one honored by our Merritt Island, FL chapter too. First meet Ronald Sebastian, U.S. Army (Ret.). SFC Sebastian entered the service in Feb. 1964 and retired after 21 years in Mar. 1985. Ronald was in Transportation and was attached to the 69 Transportation Battalion. He was sent to Vietnam and spent 18 months (67’-68’) driving and transporting materials, supplies and ammo all over the country. Ronald was nominated by Samuel Rhodes Sr. Owner of Warrior Outreach and he helped with the install. Thanks to our partner, Flagpoles Etc for the beautiful flagpole kit. #honoringthosewhoservedffv #flagsforvets1 #flagpolesetc #marchingto400now
  • Spent the morning installing another 30’ flagpole donated by one of our partners Woodmen Life for the Smiths Station Sports Complex. I couldn’t have done it without a couple of brothers. Thanks Joe, Joe, Kevin and David. I really appreciate the help. You turned a 4 hour job into a 2 hour job...and it’s straight too! We’ll do a ceremony soon but for now, they’ve got a beautiful new flagpole. #woodmenlife #honoringthosewhoservedffv #smithsstation #30footerdone
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    Spent the morning installing another 30’ flagpole donated by one of our partners Woodmen Life for the Smiths Station Sports Complex. I couldn’t have done it without a couple of brothers. Thanks Joe, Joe, Kevin and David. I really appreciate the help. You turned a 4 hour job into a 2 hour job...and it’s straight too! We’ll do a ceremony soon but for now, they’ve got a beautiful new flagpole. #woodmenlife #honoringthosewhoservedffv #smithsstation #30footerdone
  • That’s a wrap...I had a blast hanging out with Chad Prather, Steve “Party Foul” Powell and Rep. Jason Ridley (R-GA District 6). Never had make-up applied before (daughter’s and grand daughters excluded). I told them it wouldn’t do much good. Podcast should air in a week or two. I promise you won’t be disappointed! It was so cool to hang in the same studio as Glen Beck. Semper Fidelis! #honoringthosewhoservedffv #chadprather #flagpolesetc #didthatjusthappenffv
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    That’s a wrap...I had a blast hanging out with Chad Prather, Steve “Party Foul” Powell and Rep. Jason Ridley (R-GA District 6). Never had make-up applied before (daughter’s and grand daughters excluded). I told them it wouldn’t do much good. Podcast should air in a week or two. I promise you won’t be disappointed! It was so cool to hang in the same studio as Glen Beck. Semper Fidelis! #honoringthosewhoservedffv #chadprather #flagpolesetc #didthatjusthappenffv
  • I Had a great time last night. Enjoyed every part of being around 600 other veterans, spouses and sponsors of the greatest country on earth! The speaker for the evening was a U.S. Army vet named Bryan Anderson, a triple amputee wounded in Iraq. Great story of inspiration and perseverance. I can’t wait to come back next year. I have a strong feeling I’ll see some of these folks again before then... #americanvalorfoundation #flagsforvets1 #hangingwiththekylefamily #USA🇺🇸🇺🇸ffv🇺🇸
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    I Had a great time last night. Enjoyed every part of being around 600 other veterans, spouses and sponsors of the greatest country on earth! The speaker for the evening was a U.S. Army vet named Bryan Anderson, a triple amputee wounded in Iraq. Great story of inspiration and perseverance. I can’t wait to come back next year. I have a strong feeling I’ll see some of these folks again before then... #americanvalorfoundation #flagsforvets1 #hangingwiththekylefamily #USA🇺🇸🇺🇸ffv🇺🇸
  • Third Hog Hunt for Heroes held last night. Congrats to Jeremy Agner for taking three more down. That’s gonna feed quite a few folks. Great shooting too. He got a twofer.... Thanks again to Ricky Spratlin of Relentless Whitetails for the opportunity and to Wayne Wommack of Backwater BBQ for the other hog to eat! #backwaterbbq #relentlesswhitetails #flagsforvets1 #honoringthosewhoservedffv #thinningtheherdwithffv
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    Third Hog Hunt for Heroes held last night. Congrats to Jeremy Agner for taking three more down. That’s gonna feed quite a few folks. Great shooting too. He got a twofer.... Thanks again to Ricky Spratlin of Relentless Whitetails for the opportunity and to Wayne Wommack of Backwater BBQ for the other hog to eat! #backwaterbbq #relentlesswhitetails #flagsforvets1 #honoringthosewhoservedffv #thinningtheherdwithffv
  • Last night at the County Commission meeting, we presented a framed flag found by rescuers just minutes after the largest, most destructive tornado ever to hit Lee County. This Storm, as everybody knows claimed the lives of 23 people. Pat Norrell was one of those who was first to arrive in the area on Hwy 51 and found this flag laying amongst the debris. He said he knew he needed to do something with it so he took it, folded it and put it away for safe keeping until he could find the proper way to retire it. He called me a week later and asked would I take it and honor it someway. I contacted my friend, fellow Marine and owner of Cameragraphics, John Oliver and asked him if he’d frame it for me. He said “absolutely”. When it came time to pay for it, he refused payment saying it was an honor to work on it. This flag represents the love and resilience Lee County residents have. It’s a symbol of our county, our country and gives us hope. It will be hung at the courthouse for all to see. #leecountystrong #beauregardstrong #flagsforvets1 #cameragraphics #honoringthosewhoservedffv
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    Last night at the County Commission meeting, we presented a framed flag found by rescuers just minutes after the largest, most destructive tornado ever to hit Lee County. This Storm, as everybody knows claimed the lives of 23 people. Pat Norrell was one of those who was first to arrive in the area on Hwy 51 and found this flag laying amongst the debris. He said he knew he needed to do something with it so he took it, folded it and put it away for safe keeping until he could find the proper way to retire it. He called me a week later and asked would I take it and honor it someway. I contacted my friend, fellow Marine and owner of Cameragraphics, John Oliver and asked him if he’d frame it for me. He said “absolutely”. When it came time to pay for it, he refused payment saying it was an honor to work on it. This flag represents the love and resilience Lee County residents have. It’s a symbol of our county, our country and gives us hope. It will be hung at the courthouse for all to see. #leecountystrong #beauregardstrong #flagsforvets1 #cameragraphics #honoringthosewhoservedffv
  • We wrapped up our second Hog Hunt for Heroes tonight. Two more vets got a chance to thin the herd again. Congrats to David Coverdale of Phenix City for taking down a Boar. David’s partner, Kenneth Williams wasn’t as lucky. Either way we had a great night of BBQ and fellowship. Thanks again to Ricky Spratlin of Relentless Whitetails for hosting the shoot. One more hunt scheduled for next week and we’ll evaluate whether or not to add another week after that. #hoghuntforheroes #honoringthosewhoservedffv #relentlesswhitetails
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    We wrapped up our second Hog Hunt for Heroes tonight. Two more vets got a chance to thin the herd again. Congrats to David Coverdale of Phenix City for taking down a Boar. David’s partner, Kenneth Williams wasn’t as lucky. Either way we had a great night of BBQ and fellowship. Thanks again to Ricky Spratlin of Relentless Whitetails for hosting the shoot. One more hunt scheduled for next week and we’ll evaluate whether or not to add another week after that. #hoghuntforheroes #honoringthosewhoservedffv #relentlesswhitetails
  • In addition to our benefit concert this past Saturday we had the privilege of honoring another veteran on his birthday as a surprise. Meet Ronnie Sellers Sr., U.S. Navy Seabees . EO3 Sellers entered the service in May 1968 and was discharged in July 1970. Ronnie was an equipment operator assigned to the MCB-133 based out of Gulfport, MS. He spent most of his enlistment stationed in Charleston, SC but was called back to Mississippi in the aftermath of Hurricane Camille in August 1969 as part of the clean up and relief crew. He was sponsored by his son Ronnie Sellers Jr. and his family. Thanks to our partner Flagpoles Etc for another quality flagpole and flag. #honoringthosewhoservedffv #flagsforvets1 #flagpolesetc #marchingto400now #surprisebirthdaypresent🇺🇸
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    In addition to our benefit concert this past Saturday we had the privilege of honoring another veteran on his birthday as a surprise. Meet Ronnie Sellers Sr., U.S. Navy Seabees . EO3 Sellers entered the service in May 1968 and was discharged in July 1970. Ronnie was an equipment operator assigned to the MCB-133 based out of Gulfport, MS. He spent most of his enlistment stationed in Charleston, SC but was called back to Mississippi in the aftermath of Hurricane Camille in August 1969 as part of the clean up and relief crew. He was sponsored by his son Ronnie Sellers Jr. and his family. Thanks to our partner Flagpoles Etc for another quality flagpole and flag. #honoringthosewhoservedffv #flagsforvets1 #flagpolesetc #marchingto400now #surprisebirthdaypresent🇺🇸