Rhatigan, Patrick

Bethpage High School Class of 1987 Alumnus Patrick Rhatigan, now Lieutenant Colonel in the US Air Force. Patrick had a thoughtful gift delivered to Bethpage High School from Kyrgyzstan, where he has been deployed for the past six months. Patrick's sister, Kim Rhatigan-Drexler, is the High School Girls Gymnastics coach and was pleased to hand a United States Flag, signed by Patrick, over to District administrators.

Included with the flag was a certificate stating, "This American Flag is presented to Bethpage High School. On February 19, 2009, dedicated members of the United States Air Force flew this flag over Afghanistan, Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan in your honor. It flew onboard a KC-135R Stratotanker during an OPERATION ENDURING FREEDOM combat refueling mission. Let all who look upon it see a symbol of freedom, a standard of justice, and a promise to remember those who died for it."

Information from the Bethpage Tribune - May 1-7, 2009