TPA unveils historic flag display next to USO Center
A ceremony celebrating the new permanent display at Tampa International Airport was held on June 13, just ahead of Flag Day.
Tampa International Airport commemorated Flag Day on June 13 with the unveiling of a new permanent display featuring a historic U.S. flag previously flown over both Iraq and Afghanistan.
Personnel from MacDill Air Force Base, veterans and members of the community attended the event, which was a tribute to the sacrifices made by service members and their families. The new display can be found on TPA's ticketing level on the second floor of the Main Terminal, directly next to the USO Center.
The ceremony was led by TPA’s Shannon Boos, Senior Manager of Guest Experience, who highlighted the significance of Flag Day.
“This holiday is a day for all Americans to show respect for the United States flag and for what it represents,” Boos said. “In honor of National Flag Day and for all of the members of our military community, we have brought forth this display to showcase the Tampa Bay area's rich history as a military community.”
The historic flag, donated by U.S. Marine Corps Colonel Elieser R. Smith, carries deep personal significance. Colonel Smith shared that the flag was flown over the U.S. embassy in Afghanistan in 2003 and later over the USMC headquarters in Fallujah, Iraq, in 2007.
“This flag was flown when my son Parker was born while I was deployed in Afghanistan,” he recounted. “My wife and I have made Tampa our home, and we travel in and out of this airport regularly. This flag is much better served among our community here in Tampa than it is sitting in my office. It deserves to be displayed for all to see and appreciate.”
Col. Smith expressed gratitude to those who helped make the display possible, acknowledging the efforts of Airport staff in what he said was a two-year process. He emphasized the importance of the flag not only as a symbol of the nation but also as a tribute to the sacrifices made by countless service members.
“We lost a lot of Marines and other service members during that time,” he said, reflecting on the heavy toll of war. “These colors don’t run; we’re the ones who bleed for them.”
The ceremony continued with remarks from Michael Delancey, CEO and founder of Wounded Warriors Abilities Ranch, who shared his own experiences as a wounded veteran.
“That flag represents the community bond,” Delancey said. “It kept me going and gave me pride.”
He expressed his emotional connection to the flag, as it had flown near where he was critically wounded and paralyzed from the chest down by a sniper's gunfire in Iraq.
Ben Robins, Vice President of Operations at TPA, concluded the event by thanking Col. Smith for his generous donation and Michael Delancey for his service. An Air Force veteran, Robins remarked on the flag's symbolism of American values and the sacrifices made by Marines like Delancey.
“This flag immortalizes all service members and will be on display for many years to come,” Robins said.