NAUGATUCK — Hop Brook Elementary School held a special flag raising on the morning of June 21.
The American flag that now flies overhead at the school flew above Camp Arifjan in Kuwait on March 13. The flag was sent by the National Guard’s 38th Sustainment Brigade. Sgt. 1st Class Katie Zarzycka is the mother of fourth-grader Izabelle Tolliver and currently deployed with the unit.
“This flag will carry the memories and experiences of the Armed Forces deployed in support of Operation Enduring Freedom,” a certificate sent with the flag reads.
Tolliver said her mother deployed in February and will return home in February 2014. This is her first deployment.
Earlier this month the school sent care packages to the soldiers stationed at the camp. The packages weighed about 140 pounds, students said, and included coffee, juice, candy, socks and letters from the students.
Last Friday morning, which was also pajama day, Tolliver with the help of fellow fourth-graders Katelynn Budzyn, Ryan Vincent, Casey Moore and Nicholas Linton raised the flag.