By KIM SMITH DEDAM
TUPPER LAKE — The North Country is riveted, awaiting any news about 1st Lt. Bergan Arsenault Flannigan, who was seriously wounded in action in Afghanistan last week.
“I just spoke to my sister Amy (Arsenault), her mom, and she is progressing exactly as she should be at this point,” Bergan’s aunt Jill Abdallah of Plattsburgh told the Press-Republican Thursday.
Flannigan and her husband, 1st Lt. Thomas Flannigan — both soldiers serving in Afghanistan with the Military Police Corps — were flown to Walter Reed Army Medical Hospital in Washington, D.C., on Monday after Bergan sustained serious injury in a roadside-bomb explosion while on patrol last week.
Her right leg was amputated above the knee.
MORE SURGERY
“Her left leg is healing beautifully,” Abdallah said.
“She’s going into surgery again Friday (today) to complete what needs to be done on the right leg. The doctors are very optimistic about her progress.
“Bergan has a very loving, supportive family, who are there now, her mother and father, her twin sister, Bethany. And her older brother and sister will be there this weekend,” Abdallah said.
“My sister said she knew they were going to be surrounded by angels, but they are everywhere.”
Abdallah said the military medical staff is extraordinary.
“We feel incredibly blessed to have her with us. My sister said she is receiving outstanding care. The military has been just outstanding.”
COLONEL PROUD
Members of Adirondack Residents Intent on Saving Their Economy, a Tupper-based outreach organization, shared photos of the 24-year-old wounded warrior receiving her Purple Heart Medal from her commander, Col. John F. Garrity, last week in Afghanistan.
“I had the distinct honor to present the Purple Heart to (1st) Lt. Bergan Flannigan this morning at Craig Joint Theater Hospital (at Bagram Airfield),” he wrote in an e-mail dated Feb. 26.
“I also presented her the Combat Action Badge, the coin for combat excellence from the CG, 82d Airborne Division and the combat coin of the 16 (Military Police Brigade).
“The Intensive Care Unit was full of doctors, nurses and support staff — they all wanted to see a hero receive her recognition.
“Bergan is alert, happy to be alive, thankful for the medic who saved her life, along with the gifted surgeons at Kandahar and Bagram. She is a fighter and a warrior,” Garrity wrote.
“I praised her discipline and training and told her I was proud of her. Neither she nor Tom enjoy being in the limelight — I told them both that they needed to get used to being ‘rock stars’ for a while.”
The colonel said he has one of the photos of Bergan hanging on his wall.
“I wanted her to know that she is an inspiration to leaders — young and old.”
BENEFIT SATURDAY
ARISE and the American Legion Post 220, Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 3120 and the Marine Corps League Adirondack Leathernecks in Tupper Lake have planned a full day’s activity Saturday, starting at Big Tupper Ski Center at 9 a.m., with all lift-ticket proceeds going to support the Flannigan and Arsenault family travel expenses.
A parade of flags will take place between noon and 1 p.m.
Veterans will host a spaghetti dinner from 4 to 8 p.m. — dine-in or takeout — at the VFW in Tupper Lake, with donations accepted.
People who can’t attend can send donations to: American Legion Post 220, 196 Park St., Tupper Lake, NY 12986.
Abdallah said many of Bergan’s extended family and friends will be at Big Tupper on Saturday.
E-mail Kim Smith Dedam at:
kdedam@pressrepublican.com
