Welcome to the 
​​​Flag Steward
Interactive American Flag
relaying informative 'Reminders from Our Flag' and inspiring 'Patriot Tributes' specific to this U.S. Flag
at the  ​​​Team Red White Blue CP ;)

[ Pic of IAF dedicated to this honoree posted at Flag Steward HQ ... Need pic of this / your IAF at its new steward's location ]

GO HERE for today's REMINDERS FROM OUR FLAG
(including daily Flag Status, Fallen Patriot alerts, Historical Reminders, & more)

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Fallen Patriot Commemoration
This Interactive American Flag is dedicated to:
US Marine Corps Veteran
and Team RWB Pacific Regional Program Mgr.
Dan Manrique

... a 'Really Strong, Selfless Leader' ...
Dan Manrique, 33, served for 6 years in the US Marine Corps (2001-2007) - including a deployment to Afghanistan
Dan participated in and led Team RWB through numerous team-building events from 2012 to 2018
Manrique, along with 11 others - including Team RWB member Justin Meek, was killed on November 7, 2018 in a mass shooting at Borderline Bar & Grill in Thousand Oaks, CA

Star-Spangled Inspirational Quote about Dan Manrique:
... from his brother Marcos ...
"He (Dan) was a very selfless person, always trying to give back, to help in any way.  He didn't care about if he got hurt, as long as he was there to help people."

​Born August 5, 1985
Interests included hiking, biking, and photography
Passions were learning the craft of brewing, cheering for his Los Angeles Dodgers, taking care of fellow Veterans
Service-oriented life started early - as a kid he volunteered to help special needs kids at his church

As a Marine, Served as Radio Operator with 2nd Combat Engineer Battalion, 2nd Marine Division while deployed with 26th MEU (Marine Expeditionary Unit) deployed to Middle East - including Afghanistan

​Member of Team RWB family since 2012, served as Chapter Captain for the Ventura County Team RWB Chapter, and recently hired to lead as Pacific Regional Program Manager
Team RWB Eagle teammates inspired him to start his own business - involving his loves in life, service and craft beer ;)
In 2015, Dan and Tim O'Brien, creatively named the O'Brique Brewing Company, with the goal of "making great beer that follows and builds upon the lessons of the military…service, camaraderie, and causes greater than ourselves."

​CLICK HERE to review the obituary and condolence messages left for Dan Manrique

​​​​GO HERE to read the We are the Mighty article about Dan Manrique

On Veterans Day (2018) morning, more than 100 Team RWB and other community members participated in an Honor Run for Dan along the Santa Monica beaches - which finished at the military memorial shown in the video below.

CLICK HERE to examine the VA's #VeteranOfTheDay tribute to Dan Manrique
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GO HERE to view the Task & Purpose article honoring Dan
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CLICK HERE to check out the action of Combat Engineers on the 26th MEU in 2007 - Dan's deployment

GO HERE to see an article by Stars & Stripes highlighting the lives of all the mass shooting victims

Tim O'Brien, Dan's business partner, has renewed his commitment to keep the brewery running,
"It will be part of Dan's legacy. He wanted a beer that serves. A brewery that contributes to causes and the community veteran-owned, so we're going to keep it going."

Dan is survived by his parents, brother, and 2 sisters

PATRIOT POPPY says, I WANT YOU to help recruit more Flag Stewards.
So, copy this link, post it to your social networks, and promote your inspiring Interactive American Flag.
And, CLICK HERE to send them a link to install the Flag Steward app.

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Patriot Honor Roll
The personal Patriots remembered by this Interactive American Flag include:
U.S. Marine Corps Lance Corporal
Anthony C. Melia of Thousand Oaks, CA

[ USMC / public domain image ]

​​  LCpl Melia, 20, served in Operation Iraqi Freedom
Assigned to Battalion Landing Team - 2nd Battalion, 4th Marine Regiment, 15th MEU (Special Ops Capable) I Marine Expeditionary Force, deployed from Camp Pendleton,  CA
Killed in action (KIA) January 27, 2007 during combat operations in Anbar province, Iraq

CLICK HERE to read the Military Times - Honor the Fallen tribute to Sgt Straseskie

GO HERE to review the Find a Grave tribute site for him

[ THIS IS THE FLAG STEWARD FOUNDER'S EXAMPLE HONOR ROLL TRIBUTE TO HIS DAD - WHOSE MEMORIAL FLAGPOLE INSPIRED THIS NONPROFIT PROJECT ]
U.S. Army (Retired) Lieutenant Colonel
Edward J. Sweeney Jr.

Vietnam Veteran from Boston, Massachusetts
20 year Army career (1967-1987) in Aviation and Corps of Engineers
Awarded Silver Star, Bronze Star, and 45 Air Medals while serving as scout helicopter pilot ( shot down 3 times ;) in Vietnam
Died December 8, 2008, age 62, of a Vietnam War related illness 
Survived by wife, Ellen Sweeney, two children and three grandchildren
We honor and thank U.S. Army Lieutenant Colonel Ed Sweeney Jr. for defending our freedoms and fighting to liberate the lives of others.

​Ed Sweeney Jr. inspires us with his leadership - how he looked out for the welfare of his men:
Chief Warrant Officer Frank Glenn, a fellow Vietnam War scout helicopter pilot of Platoon Leader Ed Sweeney, repeated Captain Sweeney's directive to his 9 scout pilots, "Don't be a cowboy, don't take any unnecessary risks, no hot-dogging, and don't get your crew killed.  Your job is to return to base everyday."

GO HERE to review this Patriot's tribute site

Team RWB / JJ Pinter  -
​​[ YOU ;), HAVE THE POWER TO EDIT & CUSTOMIZE THIS PAGE!  Follow a short video tutorial, get access to this page from Flag Steward staff, and then you can showcase the Patriots that inspire you to stand proudly during Our Flag ceremonies.  You can do it!  Email Staff@FlagSteward.org for access to this/your page now.  PS - If a 49-year old, Catholic, Jarhead Marine can build this website than you can certainly handle customizing this page to your liking. ;)  ]

Are you ready to add another honoree here?

Thanks for visiting this Flag Steward Interactive American Flag and reviewing today's 'Reminders from Our Flag'.  We appreciate your support of our nonprofit program and mission to build more informed and inspired citizens.

[ Copyright (c) 2018 - Flag Steward, a GivingVue nonprofit program. 
​GivingVue is a 501(c)(3) tax-deductible, non-partisan, student-inspired, Veteran-led nonprofit based in Colorado. EIN: 46-2457373 ]