District 5 Honored 

On 1 October 2007 Army Reserve National Guard (ARNG) 1/285 Rear Detachment Officer (RDO) Captain Steve Sellaro presented a special certificate and a U.S. Flag to members of Arizona’s VFW Ladies Auxiliary District-5. This presentation was in appreciation for support provided by District-5 at the “Silverbell Sendoff” ceremony in January, when the 1/285 deployed to Afghanistan; and in appreciation for the VFWs continuing support to family activities of deployed soldiers. The certificate is assigned number 0281 and dated 24 July 2007. It is signed by the Pilot and Co-Pilot/Gunner, and the 1/285th Commander. The flag was flown during the mission “Operation Chakush Sangin Attack” in Afghanistan. The certificate reads as follows:

“This American Flag is Presented to Ladies Auxiliary VFW District-5. Presented by A Co, 1/285 ARNG. This flag was flown in an AH-64D Apache Attack Helicopter in the face of the enemy, and bore witness to the resolve of U.S. Forces in contact with terrorist forces threatening the freedom of the United States of America and the world. This flag was flown over Kandahar, Afghanistan in support of Operation Enduring Freedom for the men and women who lost their lives during the terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001” 

Receiving the award was VFW Ladies Auxiliary Secretary Kim Sloan, who was District-5 President when the 1/385 deployed, and served as event organizer for the ceremony (the ‘Silverbell Sendoff’ event was also a featured article in the February 2007 edition of VFW Magazine). Kim is currently serving as VFW-10188 Chair of the Veterans and Family Support (VFS) planning committee. For more details about this award and VFS activities contact Kim Sloan.

 On behalf of District-5 Auxiliary members, VFW-10188 Treasurer and Past District 5 President Kim Sloan accepts a special Certificate with a U.S. flag from ARNG-1/285 RDO Captain Steve Sellaro. The flag was flown on an Apache Attack Helicopter while on a combat mission in Afghanistan, and is dedicated to Arizona’s VFW Ladies Auxiliary District-5.