USMC Scout/Sniper Association member, GySgt Tim Parkhurst, recently had the opportunity to jump the American Flag into the Friendship Day Air Show at Marine Corps Air Station, Iwakuni, Japan.
 

Parkhurst (above) is setting up for landing in front of the grandstands.  The flag is 20x38 feet and weighs about 25 pounds alone.  Look closely--you can see a lump of something hanging under the leading edge of the flag.  That an additional 46 pounds of lead diving weights used to hold the flag down so it flies right.  "The whole package weighed about 70+ pounds all packed up, so it was very much like jumping with combat equipment," said Parkhurst.

The M1 for Vets project, with the help of Jim Gularte, West Coast Ambassador for the USMC Scout/Sniper Association, presented an M1 to Gunnery Sgt James Gominsky at Camp Pendleton.
 

The M1 was donated by Ed Pagliossotti.  Ed and his wife attended the presentation.  A sincere special thanks go to Ed for his kind donation of this fine rifle, and to all that keep this idea moving forward.

In Remembrance of those who never came home
Thank you for your service and sacrifice
You will never be forgotten
Please Click Here to Visit Our Roll of Honor Page

{Pictured Above: Christian Golczynski, 8, receives the flag from his father's casket from LtCol Ric Thompson. Christian's father, SSGT Marc Golczynski was killed by enemy fire in Al Anbar Province, Iraq on March 27, 2007, while on his second tour of duty in Iraq, just two weeks before he was scheduled to return home.  Note:  SSgt "Ski" was not a Scout Sniper, but we were so moved by the bravery of young Christian that we felt compelled to offer a tribute to our fellow Marine and his family.  Photo by Aaron Thompson}