Flag presented to local American Legion Post

Cheryl Owens/News Editor
The Newton Record

NEWTON November 12, 2008 04:22 pm

— Col. Vicki Baxter originally from Newton presented an American flag to the American Legion Post No. 89 of Newton County on Monday at a Flag Ceremony in Decatur at the Welfare Office. Baxter presented the flag to the post because it was the flag that was flown in Iraq at the PX in honor of American Legion Post #89 where Baxter was stationed.
“It is just awesome to see what she has accomplished in her life since I knew her as a little girl running through our home playing,” Adjutant Price Miller American Legion Post 89 said. “I am proud to say she was the only batallion commander that went with her troops to the battlefield and when she came home she brought every trooper in her batallion back alive.”
Baxter began her Army Reserve career in 1996 and in April of 2008 she deployed to Al Asad in Iraq.
“I did not get to where I am today without the support of the people that shaped me,” Baxter said. “Most of the people in this room today and especially my mom and dad.”
Baxter said she remembers one particular incident that was really bad.
“The cab of our vehicle was blown off our truck when we were attacked,” Baxter said. Before we could be sure it was safe to go on, three men walked all around the area to make sure there were no more bombs, that was there job and ours was to provide food, water, ammunition and to transport heavy equipment for the Marines in western Iraq.”
Baxter said the men walked all around the area and didn’t find anything. After the Explosive Ordance Disposal (EOD)
came and made pictures it was discovered there were footprints all over the bombs the insurgents had planted.
“It truly was a miracle, the bombs should have exploded,” Baxter said. “After this was discovered the men accepted the Lord as their Saviour and were baptized.”
Baxter is the daughter of Charles and Ellen Wansley of Decatur and wife of Daniel Baxter.

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