Lynn soldier to present flag that flew in Baghdad to city

LYNN – Army Specialist Matthew H. Katz has hung his hat in the Highlands neighborhood for the past 10 years and says he is proud to call Lynn his hometown.Katz, who is scheduled to come home for leave from Baghdad for the holidays, will be bringing a special gift for the city he calls home.Katz will present a flag that has flown over the U.S. Embassy in Baghdad to Mayor Edward J. Clancy and the city.”I am presenting this flag to the citizens of Lynn as a tribute to families and friends of service members who cannot be with their loved ones during the holidays,” Katz wrote in an e-mail from Baghdad where he is serving as a military escort and security for media and distinguished guests traveling in Iraq. “This flag is a thank you for the community’s patriotism and support of our soldiers in harm’s way. I would like this flag to fly high and with pride to show everyone the city of Lynn’s true nature.”That is exactly what is going to happen.Katz is scheduled to present the flag to the city Friday, Dec. 28 at 9:30 a.m. in the mayor’s office.Lynn’s Director of Veterans’ Services Michael F. Sweeney has said the flag will fly over City Hall Square from Dec. 28 to Jan. 4.”It will be a wonderful honor to have the flag,” Clancy said. “It is something that we will always cherish and we appreciate Matthew’s thoughtfulness.”Sweeney said it is Clancy’s policy that if a member of the military presents the city with a flag from Iraq or Afghanistan to the city it would be flown in Lynn.”Specialist Katz said he’s had this in mind for a while as a way to give back to the city. I know everyone is looking forward to it,” Sweeney said. “Flying this flag is intended to show service members and their families that they are in our thoughts and that we support them.”Katz, a graduate of Peabody High, is a 14-year veteran of the military currently serving with the 65th PAOC in Baghdad.”Since I am a military brat and have spent the majority of my life traveling from one military base to another, it was always hard for me to call any one place home,” Katz said. “Yet for the past 10 years I have hung my hat in the Highlands. During this time my neighbors and friends have been more true and dedicated than any I have encountered in all of my travels – therefore I am proud to call Lynn my hometown.”He said he was enrolled in officer candidate school prior to deploying, “But I resigned from the program to volunteer to be part of something larger than myself after being inspired to do so by the people of Lynn,” Katz said.