Military Hero Returns Home with a Special Gift

Staff Sergeant Ryan Shovlain, a passionate disc golfer, recently returned home from his second deployment to Iraq, where he was part of Operation Iraqi Freedom. Before leaving on his tour of duty in 2007, the Professional Disc Golf Association (PDGA) and Epicenter Disc Golf Services had provided Ryan with some disc golf equipment to promote the sport in the war-torn country.

The PDGA was overjoyed to welcome Ryan back safely after he arrived at the International Disc Golf Center on January 17th to participate in the Ice Bowl tournament. During the players' meeting, Ryan presented the PDGA with a U.S. flag and certificate from his unit, the 0410 Military Transition Team (Team Elite). The certificate reads that the flag was transported on a combat patrol mission throughout Multi-National Division - North (MND-N) in Iraq, in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom.

The flag and certificate are a testament to Ryan's dedication to his country and his passion for disc golf. As a symbol of appreciation, Joe Barton wrote: "Our flag honors those who have fought to protect it, and is a reminder of the sacrifice of our nation's founders and heroes. As the ultimate icon of America's storied history, the Stars and Stripes represents the very best of this nation."

The PDGA is proud to have supported Ryan and other military personnel in Iraq by providing them with recreational activities during their downtime. The flag and certificate will now be displayed permanently at the International Disc Golf Center as a reminder of Ryan's service and sacrifice. The PDGA would like to extend its gratitude to Ryan for his service and welcome him back home.

This article was compiled from disc golf coverage with AI assistance. Source: pdga.com — https://www.pdga.com/flag-presentation