Flag flies in Middle East

Student represents Liberty by displaying flag at Army bases in Iraq, Kuwait

Upon entering any stadium on the campus of Liberty University, spectators are greeted by a plethora of unique flags, from the colorful pennants representing the other schools in the Big South Conference to the American flag and the flag emblazoned with the LU logo. But when fans entered Liberty Baseball Stadium, Sunday, April 12 for a military appreciation game and pregame ceremony, they saw a flag unique from any other.

The flag, though similar at first glance to the other LU flag displayed at the stadium, is far from a typical piece of Liberty memorabilia. Signatures from 1038th Engineer Company soldiers grace the white space surrounding the red and blue “LU” logo on a flag that has traveled far beyond the Lynchburg area.

This simple piece of fabric has made a journey of more than 10,000 miles. It has made stops at Army bases in Iraq and Kuwait, according to Sgt. 1st Class Darrin Ryan, a Liberty University Online (LUO) student who contacted the Champion in 2014 to begin the flag project.

“(T)he Liberty flag has been flown in support of the U.S. and also as a symbol of the commitment to Christ and Christians everywhere,” Ryan said. “With the turmoil in the Middle East, we felt compelled to show support for a faith that others are dying for.”

According to Ryan, his company, which is made up of several soldiers who also take classes through LUO, is based out of Arkansas. The company works on horizontal construction in projects such as putting in culverts, digging water retention ponds, grading the roads and building levies and other water diversion systems. The company was deployed to Iraq and Kuwait to restore flooded bases.

Ryan said that while many people can often have the wrong perception of the tasks of soldiers deployed overseas, he and his unit do more than “just kill and destroy things.” Instead, Ryan believes they work to help locals.

“It is kind of neat to be a part of the things the Lord has allowed us to do for people even though they are not Christians,” Ryan said.

The Liberty flag was flown for more than five months at each of the bases at which Ryan and his men stayed. According to Ryan, the flag has also endured three separate car bombings, coming through the incidents unscathed.

“I feel there is probably a little divine intervention associated with this flag,” Ryan said.

According to Ryan, he contacted the Champion in hopes of giving back to Liberty, a school he says has pushed him to represent Christ well.

“I have felt like my life gets overrun by sin, corruption and just not taking time to see what God has done for me,” Ryan said. “In some small way, Liberty has given me a way to remember the gifts and why I receive them. … In my line of work, there can be times when morals and values are tested. I feel in my … classes through Liberty, I get grounded into my faith. So Liberty is a real aid to my life and spiritual healing. With that being said, Liberty has done for me so I can only feel obligated to support and represent the college.”

According to Ryan, the flag is a simple symbol of God’s promises in the midst of the upheaval in the area.

“The people of our religion that have been killed for being Christians have made the total sacrifice,” Ryan said. “I have seen firsthand how the cruel world can take its toll on a person and how persecution … is not just something that happened (in the past). It is happening today.

“We, as Christians in America, know about trials and tribulations. But to see somebody putting faith first in the eyes of imminent danger and certain death is something that I had not prepared myself for. I have seen death as a warrior on the battlefield, but to see someone who could give in and walk the other way decide to stay and die for the right reasons inspired me to think of them and praise God even more knowing they have secured their place in heaven.”

Who is Darrin Ryan?

Sgt. 1st Class Darrin Ryan has served as a soldier in the U.S. Army for more than 15 years. According to Ryan, he chose to pursue a military career in February of 1988.

“The Army was pretty cool-looking, so I went for it,” Ryan said. “Actually I went to the Marines first, but the recruiter was out to lunch.”

Following basic training and advanced individual training, Ryan served in Germany and was then deployed as part of Operation Desert Storm.

After a 12-year break, Ryan felt compelled to serve his country again after 9/11.

Prior to Ryan’s most recent deployment, he worked in Afghanistan for three consecutive years, helping local farmers with plant-disease and pest-control issues. Ryan also helped create classes for local farmers.

Ryan recently wrapped up a tour in Iraq and Kuwait with the 1038th Engineer Company, where he worked to restore flooded bases. The Liberty flag was flown during this time.

Ryan has served more than nine tours of duty in the Middle East.

Ryan has been married for nearly nine years and is a father to four grown children and has four grandchildren, with the most recent being born April 16, 2015. Ryan has an associate degree from Central Texas College. He is currently pursuing a bachelor’s degree in history from Liberty University Online.

According to Ryan, while it has been hard to be separated from family — in nearly nine years of marriage, he has only been able to spend one month with his wife at any given time — the gratitude of those he is serving has given him strength.

“The best part of serving to me is the people at home … that thank me,” Ryan said. “However, it is I that should thank them, because their gratitude makes it easier to do.”

However, even more powerful than the encouragement from those who support him and the military is his faith.

“All of the support and guidance I have needed has come from my prayers and is a gift from God,” Ryan said. “… It is such a wonderful gift we received from a perfect being to die for our sins and save us that there is no way we can ever repay it.”

While the sacrifices Ryan has made throughout his military career are obvious, he encouraged those safe at home in the U.S. not to worry about him.

“I am no superstar or hero,” Ryan said. “… I am not looking to be something that I can’t be, only a man who loves our God and our country. … Don’t worry about this stuff out here. We’ve got this.”

BROWN is the former editor-in-chief.