Buffalo Grove Fire Dept. cherishes flag from Afghanistan

Buffalo Grove is an ocean and several seas away from Afghanistan.

But it was never very far from the heart of one Marine, Sgt. William Adam Chapman.

On Feb. 20 a flag was flown over the Base Defense Operation Center, 3rd Battalion 25th Marines Forward Camp Leatherneck, in the Helmand Province of Afghanistan, in honor of the Buffalo Grove Fire Department. This was at the request of Chapman — the nephew of firefighter-paramedics Jim and Kevin Hauber, twin brothers at the fire department.

That flag was presented shortly after the beginning of Monday night’s Buffalo Grove village board meeting.

After the flag was presented, Buffalo Grove Fire Chief Terry Vavra addressed the village board.

“It may seem like a fairly ordinary occurrence that the Marines would fly an American flag over their base, and that is true,” he said.

“What is striking to me is that this soldier thought about his uncles and the Buffalo Grove Fire Department while on his tour of duty. Sergeant Chapman took time out of his duty to request that the base commander and first sergeant gave their approval for this honor.

“They show their dedication to all of us by thinking of us first.”

Vavra said Chapman’s action has touched “many of us who hold the military in the highest esteem.”

“When you look at this flag you cannot help but feel proud of these men and women and the sacrifices they are making for us,” the chief said.

Chapman, who is currently home, presented the flag in person, accompanied by his uncles and the Buffalo Grove Honor Guard.

The flag will be proudly displayed in a case at one of the Buffalo Grove fire stations.

In addition, the fire department will be wearing red shirts on Fridays as a way of showing its support of our troops.

“To hold this flag will send chills down your spine,” said Vavra, who presented Chapman with a military challenge coin.