INDIANAPOLIS — Veterans and community members gathered Wednesday morning outside the Irsay Family YMCA at CityWay for a Veterans Day ceremony that included the presentation of a flag flown during deployments in Afghanistan and Iraq. Retired Army National Guard Lt. Col. Hal Johnston presente d the flag to the YMCA. Johnston said he had the flag flown in Afghanistan, and took it with him to Iraq and had it flown there, too. He said the presentation was a token of veterans’ appreciation for the YMCA’s support of service members and their families. “I made multiple tours, and we had flags flown, had one flown in Afghanistan, took it with me to Iraq, and had it flown there,” Johnston said. “I’m going to present that to the YMCA here as a token of appreciation from all the veterans for what the YMCA does.” Abigail Harlan, executive director of the Irsay Family YMCA, said the ceremony recognized all branches of the military. “We will be presenting a flag that was flown in Iraq under his deployment,” Harlan said. “We will be recognizing all the service branches in the military, reciting the Pledge of Allegiance, and then everybody will be coming in for food and drink and fellowship.” The YMCA of Greater Indianapolis serves more than 120,000 veterans and military members each year through programs that include an overnight camp for veterans and their families at Flat Rock River YMCA Camp, as well as health and outreach initiatives. Organizers said a growing number of retirees who served in Iraq, Afghanistan and earlier conflicts now live downtown, which helped shape the decision to hold the ceremony at the CityWay location. Johnston noted that the YMCA has supported service members for generations, dating back to World War I. ...read more read less