Team Eglin Airman honored in Destin

  • Published
  • By Chrissy Cuttita
  • Team Eglin Public Affairs
EGLIN AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. --  Destin's summer patriotic gathering honored another Team Eglin Airman with a standing ovation.

Capt. Andreas Flowers, representing the 33rd Fighter Wing, had no idea what to expect when he arrived at Harborwalk Village with his wife, Elisa, and their young daughters.

"I appreciate what you have done to make this so special," he said to the community leaders hosting the event. "I'm honored my squadron commander thought highly enough of me to have me represent the Air Force at this event."

A biography read about Flowers highlighted the variety of duty titles he held in security forces, space operations and now providing intelligence analysis to wing leadership. Overseas, he provided critical information to the U.S. and its allies in Japan, South Korea and Southwest Asia.

"We are fortunate as a community to have military as our neighbors," said Mel Ponder, event emcee. "We are blessed."

Sandy Trammell, Destin council member, almost shed a tear when she handed Flowers a key to the city and repeated the word "humbled" to describe how she felt offering the gift to a family who faces deployment frequently.

Flowers recently moved to the area in February from Germany, a country he lived in while his father served in the Army until the family moved to Oklahoma and retired.

The Oklahoma University graduate addressed the crowd with sincere appreciation and said the best thing anyone can do to recognize a service member is to shake their hand or say a prayer. That is exactly what many in the audience offered after hearing his life story.

He said that kind of thanks helps him fight harder, live longer and have solace being part of the small statistic of less than one percent serving America. Additionally Flowers said he couldn't do it without Elisa, his "pillar."

The third annual summer-long festivities pay tribute to local heroes and military members from the surrounding military communities of Eglin Air Force Base, Hurlburt Field, and Duke Field.

The Red, White and Blue Celebration was not only dedicated to his accomplishments but to all things military - a patriotic choir group, three World War II-era T-6 Texan aircraft flyovers and a patriotic fireworks display. In addition to the ceremony,

On June 30, 1st Lt. Nathaniel Meier was also recognized at the Destin event and next Capt. Mark Martin, representing the Air Force Research Lab will be honored Sept. 1.