(July 7, 2008)—The United States Flag of Honor, which has been sent around the world in honor of fallen heroes since the 9/11 attacks in 2001, will be flown to Texas aboard a donated jet for the funeral of Teague Volunteer Fire Department Chief Robert Knight, 42, who died Saturday of injuries he received in a wall collapse.
The flag will travel in the plane’s cockpit, alongside the pilot, who will hand it off to the Euless Fire Department’s Honor Guard, which in turn will take it to Knight’s funeral Wednesday at the First Baptist Church in Teague and then to Greenwood Cemetery in Teague, where the father of three will be laid to rest.
“The Honor Network takes great honor to memorialize all of those heroes that give the ultimate sacrifice fighting for their country and communities,” the group said Tuesday.
“It truly touches the deepest emotions when a volunteer, one who does not ask for pay, one who does it for the love, is killed in the line of duty.”
“This type of unselfish and courageous service to a community is what makes this country great”
The flag was flying over the Texas Capitol at the time of the terrorist attacks on Sept. 11, 2001.
Shortly after the attacks, Gov. Rick Perry sent the flag, along with a Texas flag, to New York City, where it was presented to New York Gov. George Pataki in honor of the police officers and firefighters who lost their lives on 9/11.
The flag was flown over Ground Zero and family members later requested that it be used continuously to honor all American heroes.
In October 2004, the flag was raised over U.S. military camps and bases during memorial services in Kuwait, Qatar and Iraq and over the last six years it has been sent around the country.
Honor Network Web Site