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  • Chris Carpenter with a flag signed by his battalion which hangs in Bernita Hughes Elementary School at Adair. Courtesy Photo

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May 31, 2012

Soldier surprises students

Former Adair alum speaks at assembly

The Times

Chris Carpenter attended Adair Schools and served in the U.S. Army from 1998 to 2001. He was deployed in 1999 to operation southern watch in air defense. He had a break in service during 2001-2007. He joined the Army National Guard and was deployed to Iraq for operation Iraqi freedom. He then transferred to Oklahoma National Guard and was deployed in June 2011 to Afghanistan for operation during freedom. He returned in March.

Carpenter contacted Bernita Hughes Elementary during his deployment to Afghanistan.  He asked the school to send him an Oklahoma flag for his 1st Battalion 279 Bravo Company to fly over its combat outpost. BHE fifth-graders sent a flag provided by Adair PTO. Battalion 279 signed it and added the names of the battalion’s fallen heroes along the shield.

 The students collected items Carpenter said the soldiers could use and sent care packages to the battalion.

When the Oklahoma flag was returned to the fifth-graders, one of the teachers had a frame made and now the flag hangs in the BHE commons area. Carpenter surprised BHE on May 16 during the awards assembly. Arranged by a PTO member, Liz Farrar, Carpenter addressed students at the awards assembly in the Adair Event Center. He was honored by a standing ovation of elementary students, teachers and parents.

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