Marine Presents Automotive Lift Institute (ALI) with U.S. Flag that Flew Over Afghanistan Base

Marine Presents Automotive Lift Institute (ALI) with U.S. Flag
that Flew Over Afghanistan Base

 Cortland, NY (June 11, 2013) – While serving his country in Afghanistan, one thing that kept U.S. Marine Gunnery Sgt. Ryan Anderson connected to life back home was Facebook. LastOctober, Anderson won an Automotive Lift Institute (ALI) Facebook giveaway for an ALI/Petty’s Garage hat autographed by NASCAR Hall of Famer Richard “The King” Petty.

In appreciation of this support, Anderson flew a U.S. flag over FOB Geronimo in Afghanistan on ALI’s behalf.

Anderson presented that flag to R.W. “Bob” O’Gorman, ALI president, at the Petty’s Garage Spring Fling Car Show in Level Cross, N.C., while on leave May 25. The flag was accompanied by a United States Marine Corps certificate which states: “This certifies that the accompanying United States Flag was flown over FOB Geronimo, amid the battlefields of Afghanistan, during the decisive operations against enemy forces in Helmand Province of Afghanistan on 15 March 2013. Presented to Automotive Lift Institute.”

O’Gorman, himself a Gulf War veteran, said he was honored to accept the flag on ALI’s behalf and plans to frame it with the certificate for display in the organization’s Cortland, N.Y., headquarters.

“To think that a small gesture made through the ALI Facebook page inspired a Marine to fly this flag on our behalf while serving in harm’s way and then to carry it home to personally give it to us is truly humbling,” O’Gorman said. “We thank Gunnery Sgt. Anderson for his service to our country and for taking the time to be with us.”

About ALI

Founded in 1945, the Automotive Lift Institute (ALI) is a trade association of North American-based lift manufacturers. ALI’s mission is to promote the safe design, construction, installation, service, inspection and use of automotive lifts. In 1947, ALI developed the first Commercial Standard covering vehicle lifts published by the National Bureau of Standards. Today, ALI sponsors several national lift safety standards and offers third-party certification programs for automotive lifts and automotive lift inspectors.

 To learn more about ALI, visit www.autolift.org or call (607) 756-7775. You can also connect with ALI on Facebook at www.facebook.com/LiftInstitute, on Twitter at twitter.com/LiftInstitute and on YouTube at www.youtube.com/LiftInstitute.

While stationed in Afghanistan, U.S. Marine Gunnery Sgt. Ryan Anderson (left) won an Automotive Lift Institute (ALI) Facebook giveaway for a hat autographed by Richard Petty. In appreciation of this support from back home, Anderson flew a U.S. flag over FOB Geronimo on ALI’s behalf. Anderson presented this flag to ALI President R.W. “Bob” O’Gorman (right) at the 2013 Petty’s Garage Spring Fling Car Show while on leave May 25.

U.S. Marine Gunnery Sgt. Ryan Anderson (right) presents a U.S. flag flown over FOB Geronimo in Afghanistan on behalf of the Automotive Lift Institute (ALI) to ALI President R.W. “Bob” O’Gorman at the 2013 Petty’s Garage Spring Fling Car Show on May 25.