College Flag Brings Welcome Touch of Home to Alumni Serviceman

A May 2011 graduate's Penn College Pride has followed him to Afghanistan, where he was recently photographed holding a college flag on the hood of his command vehicle. Army Sgt. Peter J. Cassarly, an alumnus of the residential construction technology and management major, is serving with the Indiana (Pa.)-based 420th Engineering Route Clearance Co. His team's mission includes locating and neutralizing Improvised Explosive Devices, route reconnaissance and conducting presence patrols. Cassarly emailed the administration several months ago, requesting a Penn College flag for his small combat outpost. He plans to return it – along with official certification that the flag was flown in support of Operation Enduring Freedom – when he returns to Pennsylvania in February.