Flag from U.S. base in Iraq brought to injured Orlando soldier

Special delivery: Flag from U.S. base in Iraq brought to injured Orlando soldier
Army Sgt. Matthew Garwood gave injured comrade Sgt. Noe "Lito" Santos a signed American flag once flown in Iraq.
By Bianca Prieto, Orlando Sentinel
8:18 p.m. EST, February 8, 2011
The dirt-stained, rain-soaked flag that had flown over Joint Base Balad in Iraq for the last two months was carefully tucked into Army Sgt. Matthew Garwood's duffle bag.

Garwood, an Evans High graduate on his fourth tour of duty, took special care because he knew the flag had a meaningful destination – the Winter Park apartment of an honorably discharged soldier he had served beside in Iraq.

Garwood has long wanted to honor his buddy, Army Sgt. Noe "Lito" Santos, a former member of the Personal Security Detachment in Iraq who lost his left leg in 2005 when an Improvised Explosive Device blew up while the soldiers were in their vehicles near Taji, Iraq.

This week, while home on leave, Garwood finally had the chance.
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Flag from U.S. base in Iraq brought to injured Orlando soldier