Memorial Day is a day set aside for remembering military members who died serving our country to ensure our freedom.
Students in the UNMC College of Nursing have held fundraisers to support military members and their families by sponsoring Honor and Remember flags — a symbol to honor and remember the service and sacrifice of fallen military members.
To request a flag
To request a flag, contact Pat Mracek at 308-207-5341 or Yolanda Robles at 970-227-6312.
The Honor and Remember flag is a nationally recognized and personalized flag presented to families of fallen service members.
This month in Omaha, a flag sponsored by the class of 2015 was presented to Jennifer and Mike Jackman, parents of 1st Lt. Ryan Jackman, who served in the U.S. Marines. Jennifer Jackman, national president of American Gold Star Mothers, lost her son in 2007.
The flag was one of five that nursing classes of 2014 and 2015 have sponsored to date through bake sales, selling scrubs to new nursing students and a private donation. In 2013, flags sponsored by the class of 2014 were presented during an emotional ceremony at the college to family members of Nebraska Army National Guard Sgt. Trisha Jameson and Navy Lt. Cmdr. Thomas Blake.
Nursing students plan to present two more flags, but recipients have not been identified yet.
“When I first found out who dedicated this flag for me and my husband, I asked how the nursing class would know that I am a nurse of 36 years. But they didn’t know. Knowing that the students selected a project of this caliber is fabulous. It’s very special to me. It kind of closed the loop for me,” said Jackman, who teaches nursing at Fort Scott Community College in Fort Scott, Kan.
Stacy Hoefer, a 2014 UNMC College of Nursing graduate who attended Jackman’s flag ceremony, was one of the students who participated in the fundraising.
To date, the Honor and Remember Nebraska Chapter organization has presented about 77 flags to Nebraska families.
Family members, referred to as Gold Star families, are eligible to request a flag for a loved one who died as a result of an injury or illness while serving in the military. Examples include Agent Orange, sustained wounds, post-traumatic stress disorder and traumatic brain injury. The family member does not need to be currently residing in Nebraska.
Flags are funded through donations to the organization.
Kudos to the College of Nursing students! This is a very cool project. Thanks to all our veterans!