The United States Honor Flag (USHF) is a symbol of honor and respect for fallen heroes in the U.S., and in April United’s Business Resource Group, United4Veterans, was fortunate enough to host it at Houston Intercontinental Airport and hold a ceremony thanking all the veterans and first responders who work there. The flag serves as a tribute to our fallen heroes’ service, sacrifice, and dedication to protecting their communities and country, and this event reminded attendees that freedom isn’t free.
The flag has a powerful origin story. Shortly after the September 11 attacks, the Texas House of Representatives gifted an American flag and a Texas flag to Chris Heisler as thanks for taking Texas first responders to Ground Zero. Heisler then took the flag with him to Iraq after he enlisted in the U.S. Army; he served with the 101st Airborne Division before becoming an agent with the Criminal Investigation Division.
Now, the Honor Network—led by Heisler and his wife, Cindy, who previously worked in law enforcement—is committed to taking this flag on an endless journey across the country to honor American heroes. There are six microchips sewn into the seams, so that its whereabouts are always known, and it’s carried in two Pelican cases that are swapped out based on where it is being taken to honor the veterans and first responders. In Houston, Robbie Jones, U4V’s National Markets Chair and Customer Service Supervisor, kicked off the ceremony on the tarmac with United aircraft as a backdrop. TSA and Houston Police Department Honor Guards marched inside the airport to a location in the C North Terminal and presented the colors while the National Anthem played.
Those in attendance included local leadership, United employees, United flyers, United’s local U4V committee, and first responders from all areas of Houston. United veteran employees (members of U4V) were also asked to participate, along with the Honor Guards, in the holding of the flag during the presentation. “For me, this was a huge honor and a once-in-a-life-time opportunity to be able to hold the Honor Flag,” Jones says. “The flag can only be held with white gloves, used only once. Everyone who participated in the presentation and held the flag was honored with keeping the gloves used to hold the flag.” The emotion of the ceremony was felt throughout the terminal, but it was especially meaningful to the first responders and veterans at the airport. It was a moment when all those on hand were truly united as Americans.
