UNFLAGGING PATRIOTISM

By JUDD WILSON

Staff Writer

HAYDEN — The Idaho Army National Guard saluted Hayden Meadows Elementary School fifth-graders Nalan Tuttle, Jack LeBreck and Casey Dolan for their part in a flag-folding photo that went viral last week.

Hayden Meadows parent Amanda Reallan was picking up her kids from school on Sept. 19 when she snapped a photo of the boys folding the U.S. flag. LeBreck lay under the flag to ensure that it wouldn’t accidentally touch the ground. After Reallan posted it to Facebook and urged friends to make it go viral, it was shared more than 23,000 times and earned nationwide media coverage. The boys appeared on Fox News Monday morning at 3:30 a.m., said Tuttle’s mom, Denise.

Sgt. Danial Marshall presented the three boys with challenge coins and Defender of Freedom Awards at their school Sept. 21. Marshall said it’s rare to see youngsters practicing flag etiquette. He also wanted to let the kids know that what they did was meaningful to him as a soldier.

“I wanted them to know that I was very thankful I’m still seeing young kids carry on traditions such as that,” he said. “All hope’s not lost!”

Denise Tuttle said her son has helped the custodians at Hayden Meadows for the last two years, just for the sake of helping out. When Nalan was asked to assist in the flag detail, he wanted to help out.

“All three boys took this very seriously,” she said.

The viral photo captured Nalan helping to fold the flag for only his second time. Along with his peers, he was concerned that they would drop the flag because of the winds that day. He didn’t want to do that. He called the U.S. flag “a symbol that we are united.”

“There are people that are in different groups and have different opinions, but what bothers me is that some people are against each other about the flag,” Nalan said. “We are together. We are the same people. But the problem is that we need to learn how to cooperate.”

Casey Dolan had learned how to fold the flag as part of Cub Scouts Pack 215 in Hayden. He had folded the flag for about two weeks when he was photographed last week. Casey said he and his friends were so focused on doing their jobs that they had no idea their actions had been recorded for posterity. Later in the day during a water break at soccer practice, he said his mom told him about the post. At his next water break, his coach told him the post had been shared 1,900 times.

The good times were just getting started.

Marshall gave each of the boys a challenge coin, plus a Defender of Freedom Award. The coins are something that noncommissioned officers and officers hand out to “symbolize unit identity and esprit de corps,” explained Marshall. He also encouraged them to look up the history of the coins, and to learn more about the U.S. flag.

Nalan said that when Marshall showed up, “I had no idea what to say except thank you for the certificate and the coin.” Casey said the award “was surprising and very honorable.”

Lisa Pica, principal at Hayden Meadows Elementary School for the past 10 years, said the student body writes letters to veterans and takes part in patriotic events throughout the school year. While what the three boys did was extraordinary, taking care of the U.S. flag is customary at the school, she said. The boys credited the schools’ custodians Mr. Mac and Mr. Randy, plus an unnamed veteran, for helping them learn how to properly care for the flag.

Pica was thankful that the National Guard recognized the boys’ care for the flag.

“The fact that they took the time to come out and acknowledge what the boys had done made them feel incredibly special,” Pica said.

Marshall was glad to do so.

“They showed pride in their country’s colors,” he said.