Photos by Bonnie Heater (Above) Command Sgt. Maj. Thomas Clark, U.S. Army Signal Center and Fort Gordon command sergeant major, stands center stage in Alexander Hall dressed in combat apparel to recite the poem 'Ragged Old Flag," at the opening of the 15th Regimental Signal Brigade's graduation Dec. 15. (Right) First Sergeant Donna Cogan, Company D, 447th Signal Battalion, pins the Signal Corps Regimental crest on Pvt. James Price's uniform during the 15th Regimental Signal Brigade's Induction ceremony held in front of Signal Towers. A new generation of Signaleers stepped forward to receive the Regimental crest during the 15th Regimental Signal Brigade's induction ceremony held Dec. 15 in front of Signal Towers.

Proud parents, friends and other Family members snapped quick photos of their daughters and sons standing in formation before the ceremony began.

Soldiers from the 447th Signal Battalion, 369th Signal Battalion, and 551st Signal Battalion, "Watch and Warn," were pinned by senior noncommissioned officers.

Following the pinning ceremony everyone moved to Alexander Hall for the graduation ceremony which was held at 3 p.m.

According to Maj. David Hernandez, 15th Regimental Signal Brigade S-3, a total of 574 Soldiers graduated as Signaleers. [The S3 is the battalion commander's principal staff officer for matters concerning operations, plans, organization, and training.] "Sixty-five percent of the graduates were active duty and 30 to 35 percent were in the National Guard or reserves, he said. "Female Soldiers made up 22 per cent of the graduating class."

Command Sgt. Maj. Thomas Clark, U.S. Army Signal Center and Fort Gordon command sergeant major, walked onto the stage clad in combat gear, and recited the poem, "Ragged Old Flag," written by country singer Johnny Cash. "I walked through a county courthouse square; on a park bench an old man was sitting there. I said, "Your old courthouse is kinda run down."

He said, "Naw, it'll do for our little town."

I said, "Your flagpole has leaned a little bit, And that's a Ragged Old Flag you got hanging on it…

Photo by Bonnie Heater Helen Rueth (right) views images of her son that she took while he was in formation minutes before the Signal Corps Induction ceremony took place Dec. 15 in front of Signal Towers on post. She is joined by Sheila Nechuta who accompanied her to Fort Gordon for the induction ceremony and later the graduation ceremony held in Alexander Hall. "You see, we got a little hole in that flag there…When Washington took it across the Delaware. And it got powder-burned the night Francis Scott Key sat watching it writing _Oh Say Can You See…"And it almost fell at the Alamo…She turned blood red in World War II …She hung limp and low by the time it was through.. She was in Korea and Vietnam. She went where she was sent by her Uncle Sam…she's getting threadbare and wearing thin. But she's in good shape for the shape she's in. 'Cause she's been through the fire before And I believe she can take a whole lot more."

So we raise her up every morning, Take her down every night. We don't let her touch the ground And we fold her up right. On second thought I DO like to brag, 'Cause I'm mighty proud of that Ragged Old Flag."

The Signal Regimental History was then presented via video. Parents and Family members learned that it was an Army doctor who first conceived the idea of a separate, trained professional military signal service. Albert Myer proposed the Army use his visual communications system, called "wigwag," while serving as a medical officer in Texas in 1856. When the Army adopted his system June 21, 1860, the Signal Corps was born, with Myer as the first Signal officer.

Following the video, Clark, the keynote speaker and former command sergeant major for the 15th Regimental Brigade, walked to the podium and said with pride, "I'm Command Sgt. Maj. Thomas Clark and I am a Soldier."

He spoke briefly about the all volunteer force and seven years of war. Clark mentioned Spc. Michael Carter, a Signaleer and Combat Cameraman, who recently earned a Silver Star in Afghanistan.

"Soldiers stick together and help one another, especially in combat," he told the young Soldiers and their Families. Army Families also stick together…

"A lot of people in America say it's hard to find a hero today, " he said. "I disagree. They are looking in the wrong places. You won't find them in the sports arena.

"Our heroes are the young men and women who are volunteering today in our military during a time of war," Clark said. "They are enlisting and saying, "Send me."

He explained to the parents and Family members present that most of the young Soldiers graduating today will see combat in 6 months. They will serve in Afghanistan, Iraq or some other area of the world where there is conflict," he said…They will become battle hardened…

Clark concluded his speech with these words: "My name is Clark and I am a Soldier."

During the graduation ceremony all the graduates stood to be recognized.

Distinguished and honor graduates of the 15th Regimental Signal Brigade were brought to the stage and given honor diplomas. The distinguished and honor graduates are limited to the top 20 percent of the academic and total Soldier concept, according to Clark. " These Soldiers had to maintain a 90 percent or higher Grade Point Average to earn this honor," he said.

The distinguished and honor graduates were Pfc. Sasha Adams, Pvts. Benjamin Ales and Maurice Birklett, Spc. George Bean, Spc. Bruce Carroll, Pvts. Allen Corbett, Chad Coldewey and Stephanie Dalzell, Pfc. Christian Daughterty, Pvts. Andrew Deason and Phillip Dennis, Pfc. Martin Dernar and Pfc. Christian Diaz-Nieves, Pvts. Kyle Domrzalski, Bradley Eisenhauser, Derric Franklin, Michael Funk, James Givens, Marcus Jackson, Alysia Jarmon, Michael Leahy, Pfc. Thomas Lepsch, Spc. Gregory Lindstron, Pvt. Jacob McCormack, Pfc. Erick Medina, Pvts. Gerardo Nunez, Elmer Parrish, Brandon Proctor, John Rainey, Pfc. William Righter, Pfc. Caleb Russ, Pvts. Charles Sawyer, Trevor Smith and Quan Thai and Pfc. Jenemian Simpson and Pfc. Francesca Spencer.