By HILLARY EDMAN

Staff Writer

Thomas Kelly Irvin, a junior industrial engineering major and a soldier in the Louisiana Army National Guard, had only one message he wanted to express when he dedicated an American flag to the Prescott Memorial Library on Monday -- thank you.

Irvin said his dedication was his way of thanking the faculty of Prescott Memorial Library for all of their support while he and other Tech students were serving their country.

"Prescott Memorial Library got together all on their own and put together several care packages [for the battalion]," Irvin said.

"I was thinking what would be a good way to say thank you rather than just writing a letter. I thought the flag would be something respectful and something they would remember."

The flag, chosen by Irvin, was flown over the Bagram Airbase in Bagram, Afghanistan on July 25 for nine hours and 11 minutes, in honor of Sept. 11, 2001.

Irvin served as a heavy wheel mechanic in the 527th engineering battalion for the Louisiana Army National Guard.

"I was mainly a recovery specialist," Irvin said. "I [kept] up with all of the engineering equipment, regular services and anything else that [came up]."

Irvin was stationed for six-and-a- half months in Bagram, a town approximately an hour away from the capital city, Kabul.

He said he was not fearful thanks to the amount of training the Louisiana Army National Guard provided, but that did not take away from the reality and seriousness of the situation.

"You can train as much as you want, but when you are sitting there [during war] with live rounds in your hand and they tell you to 'lock and load,' that keeps you on your toes," Irvin said.

Master Sgt. Frank Huff of the Louisiana Army National Guard said Irvin was a hard worker as well as an easy guy to like.

"[Irvin] has done us a good job and his efforts are appreciated by everyone," Huff said.

Irvin said the support of family, peers and friends back home was one of the things that kept him going.

He said the care packages sent to him by the Prescott Memorial Library staff helped boost his confidence in fighting the war on terrorism.

"It did not matter what was in the care packages," Irvin said. "It just reminded you that someone was back home thinking of you, hoping that you were safe and everything was OK."

Tech police chief Stephen Quinnelly, a staff sergeant in the 527th engineering battalion, said Irvin served his state and country honorably.

"I think it is an honor that he has brought [the library] a flag back from Afghanistan," Quinnelly said. "The flag represents America's fight for freedom, and it has a special significance because it was flown in a combat zone."

Quinnelly said the flag is symbolic of what the battalion was fighting for.

"It is a symbol of American's resolve in pursuit of freedom in the war on terrorism," Quinnelly said.

Quinnelly said he hopes when students see the dedicated flag, it will serve as a reminder that although the war may not be in their back yard, it is closer than they think.

"[The flag] reminds you of America's responsibility as one of the countries with the assets to work on worldwide freedom," Quinnelly said.

"I think when [students and faculty] see the flag, it will remind them that freedom is not free."