Aggie Pride in Iraq Returns to Utah

A group of Utah State University alumni serving in the 115th Engineer Group, Utah National Guard, returned home this spring from southern Iraq. One of their priorities upon returning included a visit to USU to return an "A" banner that was sent last fall as part of a care package to the group from the USU Alumni Association.

Lieutenant Colonel Robert Dunton, a 1988 USU graduate, presented the banner to President Stan L. Albrecht. The banner included signatures from 12 Aggies who served in Iraq. Other Aggie soldiers in attendance at the ceremony were Command Sergeant Major Sid Cardon (attender '66, '69), Sergeant Ron Hammond (attender '69-'72), Major Lynn Hinckley (bachelor's, College of HASS, '92) and Major Scott Reading (doctorate, College of Science, '01).

"I am honored that you have represented your country as well as your institution while serving in the war," said President Albrecht to the Aggie soldiers. "We are so pleased that you would bring the banner back home to USU. We will hang it with honor."

"The Aggie banner was the envy of University of Utah and Brigham Young University fans here," said Dunton in a note to the USU Alumni Association sent while he was still in Iraq. "I have posted a guard on it to ensure its well being."

The "A" banner was used in a ceremony on September 11, 2004, to honor soldiers who have served in the war.