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Marine salutes neighborly gesture

Tribune photo by KENNETH KNIGHT

Barbara Fleming and Gunnery Sgt. Israel Colon display the U.S. flag the Marines reservist presented to Fleming and the community in May in appreciation of their support while he was in Iraq.

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By KENNETH KNIGHT

kknight@tampatrib.com

Published: July 15, 2009

NEW TAMPA - When Gunnery Sgt. Israel Colón left for Iraq in September, the Marine reservist knew he had the admiration and support of his Heritage Isles neighbors, but never expected anything more.

Focused on his mission in western Iraq, Colón never imagined residents back home would take the time to write cards and letters or send a care package.

But the well-wishes began to trickle in by October, including a huge box of goodies from neighbor Barbara Fleming, who served with Colón on various community boards and committees.

"I never thought I would get a care package from Heritage Isles," said Colón, who returned to Tampa on Easter Sunday. "When it arrived, it was special and a treat.

"Care packages mean a lot. They show that people back home are thinking of you."

Although he lives in New Tampa, Colón serves with Weapons Company, 2nd Battalion, 25th Marines, a reserve unit based in Garden City, N.Y.

The native New Yorker was a member of the unit when he and his wife, Bianela, relocated the family to Tampa in 2004. Their daughter Karina, 15, is a junior at Freedom High, and son Israel III, 10, will be a sixth-grader at Benito Middle in the fall.

Fleming said she is familiar with the loneliness that can consume military troops in a war zone far from home. Her husband is a retired Marine lieutenant colonel. Her son, Brett, an officer in the Marine Reserve, did a tour of duty in Iraq in 2003, she said.

Occasional cards, letters and goodie packages from relatives are often the troops' only contact with people back home.

She wanted her neighbor to know he had not been forgotten.

"It was an easy thing to do," Fleming said. "It's important to know that we are thinking of you."

She found a large box and filled it with coffee, gum, nuts, snacks, as well as gift cards to use at stores attached to military installations. With the support of her husband, Walter, the retired flight attendant bought enough supplies to feed a 40-member platoon, then mailed the box half way around the world.

The care package arrived shortly before Halloween in Rutbah, Iraq, where Colón was stationed at a military outpost called Camp Korean Village. Colón, 39, said he was caught by surprise.

He shared it with the 38 members of his platoon, who were assigned in part to train Iraqi police, highway patrol and border patrol officers on proper law enforcement techniques.

Colón, who works full time as a technology specialist at Progress Village Middle near Brandon, began to think of ways to show his appreciation. He took a photo of the platoon to send as a Christmas card, but it didn't seem sufficient.

He bought an American flag at the PX and flew it over the base as a special gift to his friends at Heritage Isles. It is customary to issue a certificate of authenticity noting when an American flag has been flown at a U.S. military base.

"I flew it over the base on Thanksgiving Day," Colón said. "I thought it would have more meaning on that day."

When Colón returned to the country in April, he had the flag enclosed in a triangular presentation box with glass on one side to showcase the white stars on the blue field. The flag box included the certificate of authenticity and a personalized plaque.

Colón made an official presentation to Fleming and the community at the homeowners association meeting in May.

"It's kind of cool," Fleming said recently, when she and Colón were reunited at the Heritage Isles Golf & Country Club to discuss the special recognition.

The flag was placed in the trophy case in the country club's Bay Room, joining a collection of autographed golf caps and a Tampa Bay Buccaneers football.

"We were happy to do the care package and happy to have the flag to display here in the Bay Room," Fleming said.

But she is unsure what the fuss is about. Other Heritage Isles residents are doing their patriotic duty for local troops serving in Iraq and Afghanistan, she added.

Heritage Isles property manager Michael Tillotson said such acts of kindness among neighbors have been uplifting for the entire community.

"We all get caught up in our day-to-day lives and to take the time to reach out to other members of the community is a tribute to them," Tillotson said.

Reporter Kenneth Knight can be reached at (813) 259-7413.

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