Members from the St. Ignace American Legion Post 62 show the flag that flew in Qatar on July 4, 2006. The flag soon will fly in St. Ignace at the American Legion Park on State Street. Post Commander Mike Lehto (from left), who served in the Marine Corps, holds one end of the flag with Shirley Bentgen, a former Navy WAVE, Post Finance Officer Norman Smith, who served in the Army, Gary Olsen, who was in the Navy, Don McKinnon, who served in the Army during World War II and than later in the Air Force, and Ray Walker, who was in the Navy. An American flag flown in the Middle Eastern emirate of Qatar soon will fly over the American Legion Park on State Street in St. Ignace. The flag was given to the St. Ignace American Legion Post 62 Saturday, August 5, by U.S. Army Colonel Curtis Cheeseman, formerly of Gros Cap.

A 1980 United States Military Academy West Point graduate, Col. Cheeseman served under General Tommy Franks in Qatar. He now is the chief information officer at Carlisle Barracks at the U.S. Army War College in Carlisle, Pennsylvania. He also is a member of the St. Ignace American Legion Post.

"During these trying times for the country, the flag is the symbol of the struggle of our way of life and the nation," said St. Ignace Post Commander Mike Lehto. "We are proud to have young men and women like Curtis Cheeseman."

Col. Cheeseman told The St. Ignace News Wednesday, August 9, that he appreciated the letters he received from students while he was in Qatar and he also would send flags to LaSalle High School and Gros Cap School.

All three flags flew at Headquarters Area Support Group Camp As Sayliyah, Qatar, July 4. The flag given to the St. Ignace Legion Post was in honor of its members and in recognition of their support.

Qatar, a small peninsula on the west coast of the Arabian Gulf, bordered by Saudi Arabia

to the south, served as the forward headquarters for fighting in Afghanistan and Iraq.

In a letter to the local group, Col. Cheeseman wrote, "The flag is just a small token of appreciation for starting my initial membership in the Legion as well as for the continued support your organization and members have provided to the servicemen and women from the community who have participated in this conflict.

"When the going gets tough, it is always a good feeling to know the folks back home are providing support."

Col. Cheeseman is the son of Janice Holle of Moran Township and the late Ralph Cheeseman. His wife, Caroline, is the daughter of James and Dorothy Brown of St. Ignace.