Fallen Huskie Honored with Flag Dedication at Hoover High
Hoover Principal Doug Wheeler and Congressman Leonard Boswell were two of the speakers at the flag dedication ceremony.
An American flag was dedicated in the name and memory of Hoover High School alumnus Sergeant Steven W. Mullins in a moving ceremony this morning in the Technology Learning Center at Hoover/Meredith.
Mullins was a member of the Hoover Class of 1982 who enlisted in the United States Army upon graduation, and was one of 248 soldiers killed when a plane carrying them home from Egypt for Christmas crashed in Newfoundland on December 12, 1985.
Speakers included Hoover Principal Doug Wheeler; Steven’s mother, Sandi McCann; Lt. Col. Townley Hedrick from Steven’s unit based at Fort Campbell, Kentucky; Ron Peterson, Steven’s track coach at Hoover; Nancy William, Steven’s cousin and the President of the AIB College of Business and Iowa Congressman Leonard Boswell. Music by Hoover’s band opened and closed the ceremonies.
It’s Homecoming/Spirit Week at Hoover which means students come to school in all sorts of unusual garb. Principal Wheeler said he worried that the school’s distinguished military guests might misinterpret some of the outfits until Coach Peterson reminded him that Steve, too, dressed in a toga during the same week of his senior year. Peterson also recalled that Steve had “gravel in his guts,” high praise for athletes and soldiers alike. Quoting from the United States Flag Code, Peterson added “The flag represents a living country and is itself considered a living thing. ‘So dedicating this one to Steve means his memory will truly live forever.’”
The already solemn gathering quieted to an especially reverent level of attention when Steve’s mother spoke and expressed her appreciation for the permanent recognition of her son and his sacrifice. She singled out Congressman Boswell for his assistance in arranging for the dedicated flag to fly above the United States Capitol on July 7 of this year, Steve’s 48th birthday.
Williams remembered that her cousin joined the Army because he wanted to see the world before starting college and he did see a lot of it through postings in Europe and the Middle East. When he died his fiancée was waiting to meet a plane that never arrived.
“The Des Moines Public Schools exist so that graduates possess the knowledge, skills and abilities to be successful at the next stage of their lives.” So reads the district’s mission statement. Regardless of length, no life could better embody that than Steven. W. Mullins’. Mission accomplished, Sergeant. Your alma mater salutes you.
Along with Eric Cooper, a major league umpire from the Hoover Class of 1985, Sgt. Mullins will also be inducted into the Hoover Hall of Fame in connection with Homecoming festivities this weekend.
