Veteran Mack Gregory

(L to R) Sisters Paula Hyde, Dorothy Hammock, Sandra Barfield, Marsha Stevens and Linda Clark prepare to hoist Mack Gregory’s flag.

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Flag is being flown in honor of Veteran Mack Gregory

BRISTOL – The United States flag that once draped the coffin of Veteran Mack Gregory is being flown in his honor at Veterans Memorial Civic Center in Bristol. Gregory, a former soldier in the United States Army, lived in Bristol and passed away in 2003. The flag was folded into the traditional triangular shape at the conclusion of his funeral and was later placed into a display case. It is a common practice for families of deceased Veterans to preserve their loved one’s burial flag in this manner.

(From left) Patrick Walden, Dorothy Hammock, Gene Free, Sandra Barfield, Randy Barfield, Paul Gregory, Linda Clark, J.W. Hyde, Marsha Stevens, Ronnie Stevens and Paula Hyde are seen holding Mack Gregory’s flag in front of Veterans Memorial Civic Center.

(L to R) Paula Hyde, J. W. Hyde, Marsha Stevens, Ronnie Stevens, Sandra Barfield, Randy Barfield, Linda Clark, Paul Gregory, Dorothy Hammock, Gene Free and Patrick Walden.

The idea of honoring Veterans by flying their burial flag was the inspiration of Bristol resident Gilda Drummond. Her husband, Lieutenant Colonel William Douglas Drummond, a Veteran of the U. S. Army National Guard and the Reserves, passed away in 1992. After having his flag cased for many years, she came forward with the request. His flag flew high for nearly a year before becoming tattered. The flag was then taken to a local funeral home where it was placed with the body of a Veteran who was to be cremated. In essence they were retired together, each honoring the other.

Upon hearing of what Mrs. Drummond had done, the Gregory family decided to honor Mack in the same way, and so they gathered on Friday to raise Mack’s flag. It is certain that Mack would have been pleased.