Welcome to the 
​​​​Flag Steward
Interactive American Flag
at UF Navy ROTC
relaying today's informative 'Reminders from Our Flag' and inspiring 'Patriot Tributes' specific to this U.S. Flag site

GO HERE for today's REMINDERS FROM OUR FLAG
(including daily Flag Status, Fallen Patriot alerts, Historical Reminders, & more)

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Fallen Patriot Commemoration
This Interactive American Flag experience honors:
U.S. Navy Commander Randolph W. Ford 
Attended U of Florida from 1954-55

POW/ MIA / KIA during Vietnam War
Born July 19, 1935 in Gainesville, FL
Commissioned Naval Officer and pinned as Naval Aviator in August 1956
On June 11, 1968, while flying his A-7A Corsair II (pictured below) over North Vietnam, crashed and was taken prisoner (POW)
Died on June 20, 1968 while in captivity, but remains were not recovered until August 14, 1985
Awarded Bronze Star Medal with Valor, Purple Heart, and Air Medal for his combat actions
Survived by his wife, Emma, and 3 kids, Dan, Leslie, and Curtis
Conferred with University of Florida diploma, in memoriam, in December 2016

We honor and thank CDR Ford for fighting to defend our freedoms and liberate the lives of others.

[ CDR Ford's military devices and ribbons ]

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Ford's wingman, childhood buddy, Ken Webb relayed Ford's heroic actions and quote to his family:
CDR Ford saw enemy search lights coming towards him from all directions, so Webb told him to send up a flare for the rescue helicopter.  CDR Ford refused to pop smoke because he "did not want to be responsible for somebody else not getting home."

CLICK HERE to review the tribute and remembrances left for CDR Ford at the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund "Wall of Faces" site

GO HERE to experience the Veterans Tribute site for him

​​CLICK HERE to examine the insightful, stirring Florida Baptist Witness (2012) article and interview of CDR Ford's son, Dan 

GO HERE to review the pictures and articles about CDR Ford on the Virtual Wall

CLICK HERE to visit the first Find-A-Grave site dedicated to CDR Ford in Hawaii along with other MIA (Missing in Action) Vietnam warriors

GO HERE to see the Find-A-Grave site for CDR Ford's final resting place in Florida (after his remains were recovered in 1985)

Reflections about this
​Interactive American Flag's (IAF) Honoree - CDR Ford

... reflections will be posted here (from newest to oldest submitted) ...

​​Submit your note of support, inspirational memory, funny anecdote, etc. about this IAF's Honoree
​Fill-in form below with memories and media (optional pics, video, audio) to share with visitors to this honoree's IAF page

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Other Patriots to Honor
Other Patriots' Interactive American Flags to visit include:

CLICK HERE to visit another Interactive American Flag HONORS GWOT FALLEN: for US Army SGT Lutters of Burlington, CO

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​CLICK HERE to visit another Interactive American Flag HONORS GWOT FALLEN: for US Army PFC Algrim of Howell, MI

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​CLICK HERE to visit another Interactive American Flag HONORS GWOT FALLEN: for US Marine LCpl Kenny of Pittsburgh, PA

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​​CLICK HERE to visit another Interactive American Flag HONORS GWOT FALLEN: for US Army CPT Joe Lusk II of Reedley, CA

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​Message for this IAF owner ...
[  Now, it's your turn to "do some good" by adding more to this honoree's story - informing and inspiring others who visit your IAF. 
Email [email protected] and we'll give you access and instructions to edit this page.  
GO HERE to see an IAF that was edited to tell more of the honoree's life story - never to be forgotten. 
PS - If a 50-year old Jarhead ;) Marine can build this website and app than you can certainly handle customizing this page to your liking. ]

Thanks for visiting this Flag Steward Interactive American Flag.  We appreciate your support of our nonprofit program and mission to build better ( more informed, inspired, patriotic ) citizens - especially students.

[ Copyright (c) 2019 - Flag Steward, a GivingVue nonprofit program. 
​GivingVue is a 501(c)(3) tax-deductible, non-partisan, student-inspired, Veteran-led nonprofit based in Colorado. EIN: 46-2457373 ]