Flag inspires in freedom essay Published June 19, 2009 By Staff Sgt. Carolyn Leonforte 963rd Airborne Air Control Squadron TINKER AIR FORCE BASE, Okla. -- Stark cold air brushed my cheek. Lumpy gravel tripped my every step as a musty and bittersweet aroma puffed up with every stumble. My body ached under the heavy, wet uniform and my shoulders slumped in pain. Sounds around me were dull yet distinctive. Guards yelled muffled words in my direction. The sun was setting and all hope drifted from my current conscious. With every blink, I tried to hold on to the comforting darkness behind my lids. Leafless limbs slumped under the last ice of the season magnifying dull hues of dirty brown buildings and the muted uniforms of my captors. Had I been in detainment camp for three days, four or maybe only two? I lost my hold on reality. I longed for the end and was suddenly struck with fear that freedom was nowhere in sight. Would my current reality last a lifetime? Oh, how freedom sounded distant and unattainable. Others with me were showing signs of defeat. We were hungry, broken, tired, thirsty and weak. We felt we had failed ourselves, our team, our squadron and our country. My blinks were becoming longer. The colors behind my eyes were becoming drabber as I struggled to hold on to any memory of a familiar sight. My throat was dry and I longed for a drip of water. I glanced over to a co-captor, locked eyes and realized that I was not alone in strife or experience. Managing to hold my eyes open for an extra split second, I realized that the posture of everyone in the camp had changed. Slowly, one at a time, each Airman stood in awe of a new sight. Was it a rescue team? Was it a sign of a successful escape? As I slowly turned my tortured body around, the corner of my eye captured a sea of red and white. Then my new reality was apparent, I was facing the red, white and blue of the United States flag at the position of attention with a strong and proud salute. These few seconds did not even encapsulate the suppressed reality of captivity training. The surreal moment was a true turning point of my life as an American and a proud Airman of the United States Air Force. Freedom was now mine and belonged to every trainee in the camp. We had worked hard, endured suffering, learned the limits of our strength and found faith in each other and our country. Together, we survived. I was changed. Freedom is paid for by the hard work of the American people, the fallen Soldiers who died for our country and the men and women of our armed services who continue to put their individual freedom on the line so that others may live in security and comfort. So that Americans can be free. I will never forget the beauty of the American flag that day. The intensity of the white stars and stripes, the saturation of the red and the gleaming blue will always be the colors of freedom on the back of my eyelids. (Editor's note: This commentary was the Freedom Citation essay winner of the latest Airman Leadership School. Graduates are listed on page 17.)