The three flags and flagpoles in front of one of Southern Arkansas University’s most recognizable buildings, Overstreet, were recently dedicated in honor of Magnolia’s unit of the Arkansas National Guard, Troop B First Squadron 151st Calvary 39th Infantry Brigade Combat Team. The two 50- foot flagpoles bear the University and Arkansas flags and the largest 70-foot flag pole displays the American flag.
The donation of the flags and flagpoles was made by SAU President Dr. David Rankin and his wife Toni Rankin. The couple’s two sons, Curtice and John, are members of the Magnolia branch of the Arkansas National Guard. Curtice Rankin returned in January from a tour of duty in Iraq.
Staff Sgt. William Austin said the donation by the Rankins was well received by members of the local National Guard unit.
“They were very appreciative of the recognition—these guys are proud of their service to their country and SAU has been a big supporter of our unit and the National Guard in general,” Austin said. “The troops are proud to be on campus and the location of the unit makes it easy for the soldiers to go to college.”
The Magnolia unit of the National Guard has been on the SAU campus since the 1920s and has provided an avenue for many soldiers to become SAU graduates as well. Capt. Chris Heathscott, State Public Affairs Officer for the Arkansas National Guard in North Little Rock, said the University signed an agreement in July 2003 to provide tuition assistance to soldiers who wanted to further their educations. In return, the Arkansas National Guard made a presentation to the University in 2004 of the Minuteman statue which symbolizes the National Guard and dates back to the time of the militia when citizen soldiers stood ready to ‘put down the plow and pick up the musket’ in order to defend the country.
“SAU led the way for 35 other colleges and universities to follow and sign a tuition assistance partnership with the Arkansas Guard. We continually challenge our soldiers and airmen to seek personal growth through civilian education and this amazing show of support gives them the opportunity to step up and meet that challenge,” Heathscott said. “Our country asks a lot of our troops. We are extremely grateful for what SAU has done in an effort to show their appreciation for that service.”
The dedication recently shown by SAU goes beyond the Rankins having two sons who are members of the National Guard. David Rankin’s father, Major Curtice H. Rankin, was the executive officer of the 38th Armored Infantry Battalion, 7th Army Division of Patton’s 3rd Army during World War II and was killed in France in September 1944. Toni Rankin’s father, James Y. Cameron, a B-17 crewman (radio operator) in the U.S. Army Aircorp, was shot down over Yugoslavia but survived after being smuggled back to allied lines by partisans.
