AVIATOR GRATITUDE

With a United States flag tucked in the bottom left corner of each crew station, an AH-64D "Apache" attack helicopter departs the flight line of Camp Taji, Iraq on Friday 06 November 2009.

Many aviators take American flags with them on combat missions to send back to family, friends, and organizations that have shown support for the deployed soldiers.

Captain Lucas Kennedy, from Kearney, Nebraska, gets ready to fly on a mission over Baghdad, Iraq on Friday 06 November 2009.

To show appreciation for the numerous items sent from a company out of Austin, Texas, Captain Kennedy will fly with an American flag in his cockpit during the mission, and later mail it to them.

For a larger view, please click on the photographs.

Photographs taken by Sergeant Travis Zielinski.