Dibrell Elementary School and the Warren County Sheriff’s Department were recently gifted with American flags by Cpl. Jonathan Maxwell Roberts.
A McMinnville resident and graduate of Warren County High School in 2007, Roberts is a U.S. Marine currently assigned to a Prowler Jet Squadron stationed at Cherry Point, N.C.
One of the squadron missions is to fly ahead of moving ground troops to detect and destroy electronic devices used to detonate IEDs. Occasionally, the pilots carry American flags on missions to be presented to people or organizations back home.
Roberts says support from home means a lot to the troops.
“We really appreciate the emails, cards, letters and care packages sent from home,” said Roberts. “They are tremendous morale boosters while we are in a very difficult situation. Presenting flags to people back home is our way of showing appreciation.”
A student at Dibrell from grades K-8, his father, deputy Alan Roberts, is a member of the sheriff’s department.
Roberts joined the Marines shortly after graduation. Following basic and technical training, he was assigned to the Prowler Squadron at Oak Harbor Naval Air Station in Washington. In late 2010, the unit was transferred to Cherry Point to prepare for deployment. Then, the unit was sent to southern Italy to serve in the final conflicts of Lybia. From there, the unit went to Afghanistan.
The flags were presented with certificates explaining their significance.