News-Info-Alerts

Re: National Traveling Tribute to Scott Speicher

From: POW-MIA InterNetwork

Date: November 22, 2003

"A national tribute to Captain Scott Speicher makes a stop in Jacksonville
A journal where people can express their thoughts is also traveling with the flag

By Darryl Tardy First Coast News

JACKSONVILLE, FL -- There's a flag flying on the First Coast in memory of missing Jacksonville pilot Captain Scott Speicher. Captain Speicher's plane was shot down during the Gulf War and the flag is a national tribute that's going all over the country helping to keep Speicher's memory alive.

A journal where people can express their thoughts is also traveling with the flag. In it are passages like the one written by an eleven year-old girl. She wrote, "Dear Scott. Thank you so much for serving our country. I appreciate it a lot. I will be very happy when you come home. You are in my prayers."

The symbol of hope now flies outside the Mandarin home of Georgia Davis and her family. She is the first in our area to receive the flag. The tribute started in California and since July has traveled all over the country.
Davis says, "It's amazing. It's incredible. People who don't even know him have such emotion about him."
Marilyn Schmidt is a former classmate and friend of Scott Speicher's. Schmidt didn't know about the traveling tribute but told First Coast News, "It brings such a passion in my soul that it just keeps me on the drive to keep the awareness alive for his recovery and bringing him home."

Davis added, "It's just important that people remember him. That he's out there somewhere and he deserves and has every right in the world to be home."

On Saturday the flag heads to Boulder Colorado and will fly at next week's football game between Colorado and Nebraska.

Created: 11/21/2003 5:43:30 PM
Updated: 11/21/2003 7:27:12 PM
Edited by  Darryl Tardy, Anchor-Reporter

© 2003 First Coast News"