The flag in the picture is waving in the afternoon breeze in front of Julia Landon College Prep and looks no different than flags waving in the breeze where ever the American flag is flown. The thing that makes this particular flag special and worthy of note is the story of how it made its way to our school.
The story begins with Ms. Aristian Franklin, health teacher. Ms. Franklin is one of those teachers who loves her students and is loved by them. She is able to take her subject matter and make students want to be in her class. This was all put on hold early last spring when Ms. Franklin and her United States Army Reserve unit were sent to Iraq where she has shifted the focus of her leadership skills from classroom teacher to soldier serving at the 345th Combat Support Hospital. That's really where the story of our flag has its roots.
Our own school flag was torn to pieces during Tropical Storm Fay. A neighbor, who is a military veteran himself, removed the flag and disposed of it in proper military fashion thereby leaving us without a school flag. After hearing about our flag, Ms. Fanklin made arrangements to have the flag which was being flown over her own military installation sent to Jacksonville. It now proudly flies in front of Julia Landon. This particular flag reminds us of Ms. Franklin and her leadership as teacher and soldier. Thank you, Ms. Franklin, for all that you do. It's just leadership in different places.
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