Throughout our Flags for Heroes campaign, we've had the privilege of learning about the incredible veterans who have served our country with courage and dedication. These stories, filled with sacrifice and resilience, serve as a powerful reminder of the true meaning of patriotism.

We’re honored to share the story of Jonathan Turnbull, an Army veteran whose dedication to service has impacted thousands across war-torn regions.

Story submitted by Michael Reese “Jonathan Turnbull enlisted in the United States Army soon after graduating from Gaylord High School in 2005. He was deployed once to Afghanistan, twice to Jordan, once to Lebanon, and then in 2018 deployed to Iraq with a follow on assignment to Syria. Throughout his career, Turnbull and his team were involved in several missions that enhanced the quality of life for those living in war torn areas. They enabled the system to allow around 4,000 girls to return to school after seven years of prohibition from ISIS. They helped rebuild a local hospital and even renovated a hydroelectric dam in Tishreen, Syria which restored power to about 450,000 people in Turkey, Syria, Iraq, and Jordan. On January 16th, 2019, Turnbull and his team were visiting a school to perform a wellness check and ensure that they were not being denied access to their education. As they were leaving, an ISIS suicide bomber ran up to Turnbull and his team, detonating his vest. There were four casualties and three other Americans including Turnbull were seriously wounded. Turnbull suffered a complete nucleation of his right eye and a puncture to his left eye. He spent months in the hospital, had over 20 surgeries, and clocked in countless hours of rehabilitation."

Thank you, Jonathan, for your honorable service, sacrifice, and dedication.

Sarah Moehling