A local resident serving his country presented the Rochelle Fire Department with a special token of appreciation while on leave recently.
Garrett Goodnite, SPC, U.S. Army attended a dinner meeting at the Fireman’s Hall where he gave Rochelle Fire Chief Dave Sawlsville an American flag flown inside a drone he piloted while stationed in Iraq.
He also presented a certificate bearing the name of the mission, “Operation Inherent Resolve,” along with a brief summary of its significance as part of the war on terrorism.
Goodnite is an Aircraft Commander and during a recent mission several U.S. flags made their way through enemy territory. As a special memento showing the significance of the mission, Goodnite presented flags to family and friends who have supported him along the way during his service. One of those flags was designated for the Rochelle Fire Department. Goodnite’s step-father, Brian Edwards, is a member of the department.
“Garrett has always had a high respect for the guys at the station and what they do,” said Goodnite’s mother, Kim Edwards. “It’s something that he’s always been proud of…Brian being a firefighter and he wanted to let them know he appreciates what they do for the community here.”
Adding, “Garrett presented the flags to us for being supportive to him while he was over [in Iraq], thanking us for supporting them.”

Currently at Fort Stewart in Georgia, Goodnite was stationed for six months in Iraq. Edwards said although he was nearly 7,000 miles away, the family was able to connect through phone calls frequently.
Edwards said her son is considering a career as a firefighter or law enforcement officer following his service in the military, something many of those serving do, according to Fire Chief Sawlsville.
“Historically the fire service and the military have a close relationship. A lot of times when people get out of the military they join the fire service because they’re not done with the life of service; when they get done they are not done serving,” Sawlsville said. “They come in with a great work ethic and a set of skills we can put right to work. We are glad to see that.”
He expressed gratitude for Goodnite’s thoughtfulness to the department.
“To have somebody that’s still in active service think of the fire service enough to where they present a flag is a huge honor,” Sawlsville said. “The flag and certificate will go into a wooden case and hang here at the fire station.”
As proud parents, Kim and Brian are excited for all of the opportunities Goodnite has during his service.
“He is learning a lot. Obviously it helps him grow and be responsible. He’s becoming a well-rounded man and that makes me very proud,” said Kim.

Below is the wording on the certificate that was presented to the Rochelle Fire Department along with the U.S. flag:
So that all shall know, this flag was flown in the face of the enemy — to the winds of freedom, illuminated in the dark by the light of justice, over the men of our nation’s leading Task Force for the Global War on Terrorism; during Operation Inherent Resolve. This flag bears witness to the destruction of terrorist forces threatening the freedom of the United States of America and the world.