Flag Flown on 100th Combat Mission Presented to VFW Post 1963

SEA ISLE CITY – U.S. Air Force Tech. Sgt. Michael Gavaghan recently donated an American flag to Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 1963.
It was the flag that was flown during his 100th combat mission in the Middle East.
Gavaghan, 36, serves as a flight engineer. He presented the flag to Post 1963 Commander Charles (Chick) Haines and Mayor Leonard Desiderio during a brief Aug. 10 ceremony.
The flag was accompanied by a plaque that read: “On 28 May 2018, this flag flew in support of Operation Inherent Resolve on a KC-10 Extender, of the 908th Expeditionary Air Refueling Squadron from Al Dhafra AB, U.A.E. “This flag represents the commitment of the men and women of the Armed Forces, the Global War on Terrorism, and honors the thousands who died in the World Trade Center, the Pentagon, and the fields of Pennsylvania on September 11, 2001.
“Let all who look upon this flag be reminded of their accomplishments and steadfast devotion to protecting the freedoms our flag represents.”
Also Aug. 10, Desiderio presented Cavaghan with two Plaques of Recognition – one for him and a second for his fellow airman, 1st Lt. Tyler Nading, who was unable to attend the presentation. 
Originally from Holland, Pa., Gavaghan’s family has a vacation home in Sea Isle City, which he considers to be his “second home.”
“One of our members brought Mike and his father into our post one evening, and we gladly welcomed them in,” stated Haines in a release.  “We all had a great time and they returned a couple of more times. Then, I was asked if we would like to have a flag flown over Afghanistan to display on our wall – and I said that would be fantastic because it would show our veterans, our guests and our community that we don’t just support our fellow veterans, we welcome them with open arms.”
To learn more about VFW Post 1963, visit www.vfwpost1963.com or phone (609) 263-1711.