(The following article by Diane Wetzel was posted on the North Platte Telegraph website on May 30.)
NORTH PLATTE, Neb. — When Andrew Tennessen speaks of his time in Iraq, he says simply, “It was a rough place.”
Tennessen, a strapping, genial fellow, was stationed in Muhmadia, one-third of the so-called “Triangle of Death,” with the 2nd Battery 24th Marines. He was a senior chief hospital corpsman.
Today, he is a management trainer operator for the Union Pacific Railroad, in Mankato, Minn.
“The Iraqi people there called us the “mad ghosts,” Tennessen said. His unit had T-shirts designed with a graphic of a ghost. Tennessen brought a pile of the shirts with him to North Platte this weekend from his home in Minnesota.
Tennessen made the 11-hour drive to participate in the third year of a program that takes place on Memorial Day at the Union Pacific’s Bailey Yard. Volunteers raise and lower American flags – one for every U.P. employee currently serving in the military overseas. The flags fly over the yard for a minimum of one minute, before being folded, tagged, then shipped to the serviceman or woman or their family members.
The idea of honoring those in the service on Memorial Day began when the U.P.’s public relations office asked Bruce Ferguson to come up with an idea to show support for employees who have been called up for service.
Now living in Omaha, Ferguson tended the American flags flying at Bailey Yard while he worked in North Platte. He and his wife Debbie were back in North Platte for the Memorial Day ceremony.
“We will send a flag to every mobilized reservist,” Ferguson said.
U.P. machinist and retired Marine Darren Deppen also volunteered his time to the project.
“Bruce decided after 9/11 he wanted to do something for active-duty members,” Deppen said. “Our local director, David Thalken, allowed the project to go forward. In our third year, we will have raised 369 flags. This year, we will raise a total of 110.”
The flags are purchased by the railroad, and employees and family members volunteer their time.
“Many people who served are not coming back to a job,” Tennessen said. “I knew I still had my job. The railroad probably knows what a loyal employee they have with me.”
The U.P. provided a supplemental salary, so Tennessen’s paycheck would equal pre-active duty levels, and continued his benefits.
“There were routine phone calls to check on my family and how things were going,” Tennessen said. “That is the reason I am giving up some free time to be here today.”
A flag was raised for Tennessen three years ago.
“He took the time to come back,” Deppen said.
Tennessen’s flag traveled with him to Iraq, where it flew over the camp where he was stationed. On Monday, he presented the flag, along with a plaque picturing the flag flying in Iraq to Casey Dyer, director of mechanical maintenance at Bailey Yard.