University of Tennessee Athletics
Tradition of Volunteers Continues in Iraq
March 10, 2005 | Football
March 10, 2005
by Carla Cody
After tossing several nicknames around, including the Big Bend State, Hominy State, Butternuts, The River with the Big Bend, Mother of Southwestern Statesmen, and even Hog and Hominy State, by 1812 Tennessee finally had a nickname: Volunteers. The name was earned when thousands of Tennesseans enlisted in the War of 1812 after Governor William Blount asked for volunteers.
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While many Americans have forgotten much about America's second war with Great Britain, most Americans know which one of the nation's 50 states is the Volunteer State. Living up to the state's name, Tennesseans are still volunteering.
In today's war, some volunteer Tennessee soldiers in a far away land have a small comfort the Tennesseans of 1812 had never seen. It is a large "Big Orange" flag signed by University of Tennessee football players.
Sgt. Steve Yeary of Morristown described it as a picture of home. Yeary and other Lakeway Area soldiers serving in Iraq said the flag was a good morale booster after a long day.
"We work hard and are very tired," Yeary said.
Though it may look out of place in the desert sun, soldiers of the 278th Armored Calvary, a National Guard unit with many members from the Lakeway Area, wave the flag proudly.
"We are all Vol fans," Yeary said.
While the soldiers are true volunteers themselves, they are thrilled to have the signatures of other Tennessee Volunteers on their flag. Names like Head Football Coach Phil Fulmer and players Erik Ainge, Cedric Houston, Michael Munoz, Kevin Burnett and Rick Clausen.
Fulmer said he was honored to take part in the project. He said the thanks, though, should go to the Volunteer soldiers in Iraq.
"We are very grateful for the sacrifice that our men and women in the military are making. It's a great lesson for our young men that there are things going on in the world that are more important than football. It also reinforces the great pride that we all have in the tradition of the Volunteer State," Fulmer said.
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The big orange flag first caught the eye of a Bean Station resident, Sgt. David Dalton, who is also a volunteer for the Air National Guard. He said he and his wife were walking the streets of Gatlinburg when he looked up to see the prettiest orange flag he had ever seen.
"I immediately thought it would be a great symbol of our state for our local guys to have with them in Iraq," Dalton said.
Knowing most of his buddies in Iraq were big orange football fans, Dalton entertained the notion of having the University of Tennessee football team sign the flag. Dalton made a phone call to UT Assistant Athletic Director Chris Fuller, who helped do the footwork of getting the players and coaches to autograph the flag.
Fuller said Dalton had become sort of an emissary to the Tennessee military units in Iraq. With Dalton's help, the football team has signed other big orange flags for Tennessee units stationed in Iraq.
"It was a blessing for us to have an opportunity to even make this small gesture to people in our community who are fighting for our country," Fuller said.
As a token of their appreciation to the University Volunteers, the soldiers sent Fulmer and his players a special gift, which Dalton delivered to the athletic department office. Dalton said he was privileged to act as the liaison between the two groups of Tennessee Volunteers.
While a big orange flag waves in the desert of Iraq to remind Tennessee soldiers of home, Fulmer cherishes another flag. It was sent to him from Tennessee soldiers in a distant land. It is an American flag that once flew over Iraq.
