A special flag from a local serviceman’s deployment will be flown at the White County Courthouse for the next few weeks until it is retired next month.
National Guard Sergeant Bradly Goforth just returned home from a deployment in the Middle East. Goforth said the flag was given to him by his platoon leader. It was flown on his infantry fighting vehicle. Bradley said it survived missions he went on while deployed, and it is a great honor to have it at the courthouse.
“That flag has seen a lot,” Goforth said. “And it’s kind of the sign of freedom. And you know, what White County stands for, what the Upper Cumberland stands for, and you know, America. What America stands for”
The flag will be flown at the White County Courthouse until September 8. After it is retired, Goforth will display the flag at his home.
Goforth said the idea to fly the flag at the courthouse started as a joke among his friends. He said he did not plan to follow through with the idea until his friends started to ask him about it.
White County Executive Denny Wayne Robinson said Goforth reached out and asked for the flag to be flown when he returned.
“Of course, I was just honored he would even think of us,” Robinson said. “And I thought that would be a great thing to do to not only honor Sgt. Goforth, but all of our military. And to have kind of a piece of history flying at our courthouse, and the story behind what had happened to that flag and where it had been.”
Robinson, a veteran himself, said he understands the sacrifices made by the military. He said he always tries to honor service members, especially those who live in White County when they can.
“Those people that basically write a check to the United States Government saying you know, ‘I will defend you with my life,’ those people need special recognition.”
Goforth said he comes from a military family, and he enlisted in the Marine Corps shortly after high school. He said he took some time after that to focus on his family and civilian career before signing a second contract to join the National Guard.
Goforth said his Middle Eastern deployment was a unique experience. He served alongside the same group of people he has worked with for the last several years. Goforth said serving overseas gave him a different perspective.
“It’s a whole different world over there, if you haven’t gone,” Goforth said. “We definitely don’t want to take our freedoms for granted. We have stuff over here, you know, we have the ability over here to do just whatever we want to do. Over there, they don’t have that. You know, they don’t have the life that we have over here.”
Goforth said he remembers growing up in White County, the small town atmosphere, and the family environment it offers. He said he hopes White County continues to be a welcoming place for everyone who comes through.
Robinson said the logistics of the flag retirement ceremony are still being worked out, but it will be a very special moment. He said the American Legion will be involved.
