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American flag that flew in Iraq presented to MU

University’s Occupational Therapy Department members receive flag during formal ceremony in Lemmond Theater.

Representatives of the 320th Military Police Battalion based in Ashley, presented an American flag that flew over Camp Bucca in Iraq to the Misericordia University Occupational Therapy Department during a formal ceremony in Lemmond Theater at Walsh Hall.

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Lt. Col. Stacy Garrity of the 320th Military Police Battalion, based in Ashley, Pa., presents the special flag from Camp Bucca to Misericordia University occupational therapy student Christine Brandon during a special ceremony in the Lemmond Theater at Walsh Hall.

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Members of the 320th Military Police Battalion, based in Ashley, pose for a picture with Misericordia University students, faculty and administration. From left, Dr. Grace Fisher, chair of the occupational therapy department; Lt. Col. Stacy Garrity Staff Sgt. Michael Casey, Sarah Terry, OT student; Staff Sgt. Eric Caisman, Staff Sgt. Thomas Brandon, Pfc. Eric Bartos, Christine Brandon, OT student; Spc. Timothy Swahn, Courtney Sennett, OT student; Sgt. William McDonald, Sfc. Linda Thorton, Michael MacDowell, president, Misericordia University, and Sunday-Lefkowitz, OTR/L, instructor.

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The American flag flew over Camp Bucca on July 4, 2009 and was dedicated afterward to the occupational therapy program. The unit received five large care packages from the program as part of the “Packages for the Troops” teaching laboratory in the sophomore occupational therapy class, “Occupation: Theories and Perspectives I.”

The soldiers appreciated the gifts, according to Lt. Col. Garrity, and also shared some of them with the Iraqi people as part of their humanitarian missions.

“Packages for the Troops” was organized by MU occupational therapy students Christine Brandon of Freeland, the wife of Staff Sgt. Thomas Brandon, a member of the 320th MP Battalion; Sarah Terry of Orrtanna, and Courtney Sennett of Williamsport.

The 320th MP Battalion was responsible for providing military police services to 1,200 soldiers and 7,000 detainees at Theater Internment Facility Defender, the larges internment facility in Iraq. The soldiers’ main mission in Iraq was to provide “care and custody with dignity and respect” for the detainees, according to Lt. Col. Stacy Garrity. But the unit also implemented numerous educational programs to help detainees develop the skills necessary for life outside the internment facility, like the Bucca Freedom School, vocational training and registering 4,500 detainees for the Special Population Provincial Election.

The local soldiers also led and implemented more than 25 humanitarian projects in support of the detainee family visitation program. The projects helped to positively shape the Iraqi families’ opinions of U.S. and coalition forces, and also provided the battalion soldiers with the opportunity to interact with Iraqis in a positive and productive manner.