Marines drop in on elementary schoolers Published March 22, 2010 By Andre Bowser 439th AW Public Affairs CHICOPEE, Mass. - -- A small contingent of the Marine Wing Support Squadron 472 dropped in on nearby elementary school students in Chicopee, Mass. March 18, bringing with them what can best be described as handy work. Marine Capt. Christopher Hermann and Staff Sgt. Andrew Galonzka visited students at Bowie Memorial School to "present the elementary students with a flag that they [the students] created from their handprints last year," Captain Hermann said. "Along with the flag, we presented a framed certificate of Appreciation and a letter stating when and where the flag was displayed in Iraq," he said. The flag was given to MWSS 472 in Iraq, in November 2009 by the New England Patriots' cheerleaders while on a USO tour, according to Captain Hermann. One of the cheerleaders who gave the Marines the flag in Iraq was also present at Thursday's event, Captain Hermann said, who was present in Iraq when the flag was originally bestowed upon the Marines. He said Thursday's event was a complete circle, returning the flag to the caring, though little, hands that had created it. "The flag will remain at Bowie for a few months until we can make arrangements for the Patriots' cheerleaders or another group to deliver the flag to a Marine unit in Afghanistan," the captain said. Several local media outlets were on hand during Thursday's event, and a photo of the original presentation by the Patriot cheerleaders in Iraq is displayed prominently in the New England Patriots Hall of Fame room at Foxborough.