By News Staff
SALT LAKE CITY, Utah — Troopers with the Utah Highway Patrol escorted the U.S. Honor Flag around the state to honor fallen first responders.
The flag was raised in honor of Draper City Fire Department Firefighter Matthew Burchett, a special moment for Fire Chief Clint Smith.
“To be able to share the moment of thinking about Matt with those that I serve with, members of our city, the community and his family (is) very special,” Draper Fire Chief Clint Smith said.
The flag was also raised in of several other fallen first responders and military members across the state.
The idea of a traveling memorial and the U.S. Honor Flag started with Chris Heisler, a U.S. Army veteran, who drove the flag from his home state of Texas to honor those killed in the terrorist attacks on Sept. 11, 2001. From there, Heisler took the American flag on his overseas combat tours in Iraq and Afghanistan. The flag now travels nationwide as part of the Fallen Hero Network to honor first responders and military service members at memorials, gravesites, schools and national monuments.