The flag that flew from the state capitol building on the one-year anniversary of the Sept. 11 attacks will now hang in the National Guard Armory, thanks to U.S. Rep. Paul Gilmore.

Gilmore gave the flag to the 148th Infantry of the National Guard yesterday to honor them for their year-long stint of service, ending Aug. 31.

Gilmore, the Republican incumbent facing Democrat Roger Anderson and Independent John Green in the Nov. 5 election, reminded the soldiers of just how important they are.

“A lot of people don’t appreciate the sacrifices you make,” Gilmore said to the guard members. “We couldn’t perform all these worldwide missions without a guard unit.”

Having someone of Gilmore’s stature honor the unit’s hard work means a lot to the guard members, according to Capt. Stewart Orr.

“Others forget,” Orr said. “He didn’t.”

As a part of Operation Noble Eagle, the unit was stationed in Fort Knox last October to tighten homeland security after September’s terrorist attacks. The unit has more than 160 members — 25 percent of which are students.

These guard members — like others in the military — hold the flag in high esteem, according to Capt. Kevin Lochtefeld.

“It is extensively symbolic to soldiers,” he said. “They take the displaying of the flag very professionally.”

Gilmore honored the soldiers’ families, too.

“There’s a lot of stress on families as well,” he said.

Lochtefeld agreed that recognizing soldiers’ relatives is important.

“Sometimes [our] families are forgotten — families are a critical piece,” he said.

Gilmore chose to give this unit the flag because it was the first in the area to be called to duty. The fact that they were first, points to their skill, he added.

“The first units activated are those who are best trained, best prepared,” he said.

They furthered their training during their service in Fort Knox. There, guard members were trained as part of a quick-reaction force meant to respond to an attack within a half hour’s notice.

With the possible war on Iraq on the horizon, area National Guard units should be ready to serve, according to Gilmore.

“[Area units] could be called If we do have another national emergency, even short of war,” he said.

Even if the United States goes to war with Iraq, the 148th Infantry — which wasn’t called on during the Gulf War — probably won’t be called on again, according to Lochtefeld.

“It’s important that we always prepare,” he said. “But I’m not worried about it.”