For U.S. Marine Corps Chief Warrant Officer Eric Griswold, the sight of Sand Ridge Charter School's American flag was more than he could stand.

&#8220It was pretty ratty and weather beaten," said Sanna Buchanan, Sand Ridge secretary.

The flag's condition caught Griswold's attention when his daughter, Bethany Griswold, attended the school in 2006. The Griswolds have since moved to California, but while stationed in Okinawa, Japan, he arranged for the school to receive a new flag, one with historical significance.

On Jan. 25, 2007, a Marine Corps KC-130 Hercules aircraft flew an American flag from Okinawa to the Japanese island of Iwo Jima. The flag was then sent to Sand Ridge with a certificate showing it had been raised on the island.

Iwo Jima was the site of one of the bloodiest battles of World War II. Fighting on the island during February and March 1945 claimed the lives of 6,825 Americans and 20,703 Japanese. The picture of five Marines and a Navy corpsman raising the American flag atop Mount Suribachi on Feb. 23, 1945, is said to be the most reproduced photograph in history.

On May 3, members of the Lebanon and Albany chapters of the American Legion conducted a symbolic flag raising at the school, complete with an honor guard and 21 gun salute.

American Legion members trained sixth graders on how to properly raise and lower the flag and fold it for storage. Students now take turns in teams of two to raise the flag at 8 a.m. and lower it at 3 p.m. Monday through Friday.

&#8220The kids really seem to like taking responsibility for it," Buchanan said.