Airmen unfurl 'Superflag' at Braves baseball game Published July 8, 2010 By Tech. Sgt. Brad Barth 336th Recruiting Squadron MOODY AIR FORCE BASE, Ga. -- More than 250 Airmen from throughout Georgia teamed together to unfurl a 160-by-300-foot American flag on July 4 before the Atlanta Braves baseball game at Turner Field. The Braves wanted to organize a pre-game ceremony that would appropriately honor the military and so they approached the 336th RCS with the idea of presenting the "Superflag." The Airmen came from Moody AFB, Robins AFB, Dobbins ARB and the Georgia National Guard, and were joined by future Airmen in the Delayed Enlistment Program. The Airmen were met at Turner Field hours before the game by two representatives from the flag company. Each Airman was given a specific job to ensure the massive flag could be opened without touching the ground. After practice, the volunteers changed into their uniforms and prepared to present the flag to the crowd of 44,000 fans. As they carried the furled flag onto the field, the magnitude of the event became more apparent to the participants. "The moment you stepped onto the field and looked around you thought to yourself, 'Is this real?'" said DEP member Jennifer Smith. "The applause and whistles that surrounded you filled you with joy!" "I've never felt as much pride as I did when the crowd roared as the flag opened; chills shot down my spine. It was the proudest and most humbling experience I've ever felt," said Senior Airman Brett Sims of Moody AFB. "Hearing the National Anthem has always given me chills, but being in uniform and holding an enormous American flag on the 4th of July while a flight of T-38s flew over almost made me cry," said Airman 1st Class Alexandra Wadsworth of Robins AFB. As the volunteers made their way to the stands after the game, many met grateful fans. One particular encounter meant a lot to Maj. Mark Ashman of Moody AFB. "As I neared the top of the stairs, I saw a man in a wheelchair. As I approached him, he rendered a sharp salute and I saluted him back. I then introduced myself to him; through the course of our conversation I found out that he was a sergeant major in the United States Marine Corp. I asked him how he was injured and he explained to me that he had spent time in Iraq and was injured by an IED. During our brief conversation I looked at this man and quickly understood the meaning of sacrifice and I thank him for his service in defense of our great nation."