Everyday Hero: A lifetime of service
CHARLESTON, S.C. (WCBD)—The Order of the Palmetto, South Carolina's highest civilian honor, was recently presented to Rear Adm. James H Flatley III aboard the USS Yorktown—the perfect place to honor a man who dedicated his life to protecting others and preserving history.
'It's a man whose given service over himself his whole life and is an example to us all,' said Chauncey Clark with the USS Yorktown Foundation.
Similar words are often spoken about Admiral. Flatley, who was surrounded by family and friends for the special ceremony
The Order of the Palmetto is presented to the South Carolinian who has demonstrated extraordinary lifetime achievements, service, and contributions of national and statewide significance.
Admiral Flatley, who is 91 years old and lives in Mount Pleasant, graduated from the Naval Academy. He was a US Naval aviator from 1956 until his retirement in 1987. He flew combat missions in Vietnam.
But what made this ceremony special for Admiral Flatley was that it was aboard the same aircraft carrier in which his father landed the first Hellcat fighter plane.
'That meant a lot because it goes so far back to my dad helping put this ship together and get it to sea. You know he was a World War 2 hero. All the more reason to follow in his footsteps, which I tried to do,' Flatley explained.
Admiral Flatley is no stranger to making history. In 1963, he became the first person to complete 21 C-130 Hercules landings on an aircraft carrier.
In later years, after retirement, Admiral Flatley also ran Patriots Point for seven years. He has spent a lifetime dedicated to service.
'I think you can't find a lifetime that's more expansive than his was from his Navy career to his community career,' said Clark.
He is the kind of person who thanks others who were there to thank him, and now he will always be remembered for his outstanding service and career.
'That's why we honor him here today. It's something we're losing in the American society today. People that give everything for their country and for their family' said Clark.
Congratulations, Admiral Flatley!
Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
UPI
3 days ago
- UPI
Navy meets 2025 recruitment goal months ahead of schedule
Midshipmen sing during the Naval Academy graduation ceremony in Annapolis, Md., in May 2024. The Navy says it has already met its recruiting goal for 2025. File Photo by Bonnie Cash/UPI | License Photo June 19 (UPI) -- The U.S. Navy is saying it has already met its recruiting goal for 2025 and did so earlier than expected. Secretary of the Navy John C. Phelan said that he is "proud to announce that we have met our Fiscal Year 2025 recruiting goal three months ahead of schedule," in a post to X Wednesday evening. "A total of 40,600 future Sailors have stepped up to serve," he added, who will be sent to its Recruit Training Command by September. In an accompanying video, Phelan credited the efforts of naval recruiters, team innovation and "the courage of thousands of who stepped forward to serve" in regard to its having reached its enlistment target so quickly. The Navy further stated in a press release that it had also surpassed its 40,600 recruitments aim in 2024 by 378 people, and those 40,978 recruits were the most contracted since 2002. The Navy Recruiting Command's Rear Admiral Jim Waters said of the naval recruitment process in the release that "It shows that when we remove barriers, accelerate processes, and meet people where they are, the right individuals answer the call." He also noted that "Meeting the recruiting target is not the finish line," but instead a signal that "we're on the right course and ready to keep building the force of the future." The Navy has made moves in the recent past to help attract potential sailors, such as having raised its maximum enlistment age to 41 in 2022, and as of 2024 allows those without a high school diploma to join as long as they achieve a score a 50 or higher on the Armed Forces Qualification Test.
Yahoo
14-06-2025
- Yahoo
Here's who has filed to run for Spartanburg County Sheriff: List
SPARTANBURG COUNTY, S.C. (WSPA) — The filing period for the special election to fill the seat of Spartanburg County Sheriff opened Friday. Five candidates have filed paperwork with South Carolina Election Commission, all of whom have filed as Republicans in the August 5 primary. Sheriff salaries in the Upstate: Where does your county rank? Candidates running in the special election had to pay a filing fee of about $3,000, which is prorated because of the partial term. Candidates are listed below in alphabetical order. In his letter announcing his bid for the seat of sheriff, Clark said he wants to help citizens, residents and visitors throughout Spartanburg County. Clark started his career with the Spartanburg Police Department in March 2002, serving as a senior patrol officer and a field patrol officer. In October 2005, Clark began working with the Spartanburg County Sheriff's Office, working as a property crimes investigator, a software systems administrator and records supervisor. 'I have the experience and knowledge to lead the sheriff's office and continue its mission to provide services to citizens that meet or exceed professional law enforcement standards, ensuring equal enforcement, and protection of the law without prejudice,' Clark said. Clevenger, who has served as coroner since 2009, announced his candidacy for Spartanburg County Sheriff on Monday. 'I have dedicated my adult life to serving the people of Spartanburg County with transparency, compassion, and professionalism.' said Clevenger in a news release. 'The brave men and women of the Spartanburg Sheriff's Office deserve a leader who protects their integrity and shields them from politics so they can focus on protecting our community.' Clevenger said his campaign for sheriff will focus on restoring trust in law enforcement, increasing transparency, supporting deputies and ensuring public safety is 'free from political agendas.' Nick Duncan, a Laurens County native, worked as a paramedic with Spartanburg County EMS before he joined the Spartanburg County Sheriff's Office in 2014. He announced a run for sheriff in March 2024, but lost the primary election in June. Duncan previously said that, if elected, he would focus on drug issues impacting the county as well as working on community relations and transparency in the office. Duncan encouraged voters to decide what they want from their elected leaders. 'Just look at everybody, figure out what you want from your elected officials, and what beliefs most align with yours and make a good, educated decision.' Duncan said. Bill Rhyne announced his bid for the seat of sheriff on June 3. A northern Spartanburg County native, Rhyne joined the U.S. Marine Corps after graduating from Chapman High School. He worked for the Spartanburg County Sheriff's Office as a resident deputy and then for the South Carolina Highway Patrol in the Upstate as a public information officer and community relations officer. Rhyne retired as lieutenant and executive commander. After retirement, he became the director of training for American Services. He also was able to return to SCHP as a community outreach coordinator. 'This campaign isn't about politics. It's about people,' Rhyne said. 'It's about making sure our communities are safe, heard, and respected. It's about being present, well-reasoned in our actions, and building a sheriff's office that truly serves every corner of Spartanburg County.' Richard 'Ric' Stephens served in the Army National Guard from 1982-1992, according to his website. Later, Stephens worked for the Spartanburg County Sheriff's Office from 1996-2002 in various positions. He retired from work in law enforcement in 2015. 'In doing this, I learned the complexity of the sheriff's office and how extremely important it is for you as an employee to understand and use all the county resources allocated,' Stephens said. In an interview with 7NEWS, Stephens explained that his bid for sheriff is personal, after losing a family member was killed by a drug dealer in Spartanburg County. 'The sheriff's office has a dedicated professional workforce, with my leadership we will focus on issues that affect the taxpayers the most (traffic, drugs, and crime) I will give immediate results,' he added. The primary will be held on August 5 while the special election is set to be held on November 4, which is the date of the 2025 general election. Early voting for the primary will be held from July 21 through August 1 while early voting for the special election will run from October 20 through October 31. A primary runoff would be held on August 19, if necessary, with early voting from August 13 to August 15. Full schedule for special election: June 13 – Candidate filing opens June 21 – Candidate filing closes July 21 – Early primary voting begins August 1 – Early primary voting ends August 5 – Primary election August 13 – Primary runoff early voting begins (if necessary) August 15 – Primary runoff early voting ends (if necessary) August 19 – Primary runoff election October 20 – Special election early voting begins October 31 – Special election early voting ends November 4 – Special Election Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
13-06-2025
- Yahoo
Personal touches, secret messages: Behind the scenes of making Caitlin Clark's new Wilson basketballs
If you buy something through a link in this article, we may earn commission. Pricing and availability are subject to change. INDIANAPOLIS – Caitlin Clark's favorite color is blue. Outside of the gym, she's happiest being on the water or a golf course. She says the same thing to teammate Aliyah Boston before every Indiana Fever game. When you buy one of the basketballs in Clark's new line from Wilson, you're not just getting a ball. You're getting a glimpse of Clark herself. Advertisement The colors, the patterns, the detailing — all are the result of months-long conversations between Clark and Wilson's design team about who she is, what she likes and what messages she wants to send to young fans. 'It was a really fun process for me to go through,' Clark told USA TODAY Sports. 'It's things that are super important to me and all very different things, too, throughout my life. So hopefully they can make an impact on whoever's going to pick the ball up.' Clark joined Michael Jordan as the only athletes with full basketball collections for Wilson, signing a multiyear sponsorship deal in May 2024 with the official manufacturer of basketballs for the WNBA, NBA and NCAA. In part because of the short turnaround time before the release of her first signature ball last October, Clark's first line leaned heavily into history. The records she broke at Iowa. Her historic rookie season with the Fever. But Clark and Wilson knew they wanted future lines to be more personal, reflecting who Clark is as a person as much as a player. Advertisement 'She's actually influencing this. It's not just people at Wilson picking the design,' said Hudson Vantrease, director of product design at Wilson. 'We never wanted to just put her name on a ball and call it a day,' he added. 'We want to tell the most compelling story, and having her as part of that is a positive to it.' Wilson invited USA TODAY Sports to attend the design team meeting in April where Clark saw the finished basketballs for the first time. The design team also gave USA TODAY Sports a behind-the-scenes look at the collaboration process with Clark for the latest collection, which will be released June 23. There are four balls in the collection, and they differ in both purpose (one is an indoor-only ball, one is outdoor-only and two can be used either indoors or outdoors) and price point. One, the Embrace, is an Evo NXT basketball, meaning it has the same construction as a regulation W ball and could be used in official games. Advertisement 'Awesome. Awesome, awesome, awesome,' Clark said when she walked into the Fever's practice gym and saw the four new basketballs. 'You guys killed it.' Caitlin Clark poses with basketballs from the second edition of her signature collection with Wilson Sporting Goods. The new line of four basketballs -- the Aspire, the Embrace, the Envision and the Oasis -- will be available June 23. The team responsible for developing Clark's line has about a dozen core members. They met with Clark at last year's All-Star Game and got her initial thoughts about the collection, including what a young Caitlin Clark would have wanted. 'I think she said a blue ball,' said Haley Reines, the product line manager at Wilson. Afterward, Reines and product designer Julia Muscarello sent Clark a detailed questionnaire, asking her everything from her favorite color to her hobbies outside of basketball to what she'd be if she wasn't a basketball player (chef). They also monitored social media, taking note of Clark's clothes — there's an Instagram account devoted to her fits — and what she does off the court. Advertisement 'I don't want to say borderline stalking, but yeah,' Muscarello said with a laugh. 'I was trying to stay on the Caitlin pulse.' Those answers and details drove the design process, which involved 'hundreds' of hours. Christopher Rickert, the senior director of global production at Wilson, said the team began with 50 design ideas and whittled them down. Sometimes the color wasn't right. Sometimes the pattern didn't work. Sometimes what seemed like a great idea on paper didn't quite translate into reality. When the team had 10 ideas, they sent the designs to Clark for her thoughts. There were further tweaks, and prototypes were made to make sure the designs looked the same on an actual basketball as they did in drawings. Advertisement The four designs ultimately chosen for this year's line all have very different looks, but there's a commonality to all of them. Clark. 'Whenever I do something, I want to make it the best product possible for people. But also I feel like this is an easy way for me to connect with my fans,' Clark said of being so involved in the design process. 'I want it to feel very personal for them, too. They can connect with me, not just by watching me on TV or coming and buying a ticket to a game.' Take the Oasis ball, which can be used indoors and outdoors. Clark told Reines and Muscarello her favorite color is blue, she likes pastels and her happy places are the water and golf course. So the panels of the Oasis ball are white and light blue, and the light blue panels have what looks like pink and green splashes of paint but is actually an abstract drawing of a golf course. Advertisement Clark picked up on it right away when she saw the ball. 'That looks like a hole on a golf course!' she exclaimed. Light blue is also the shade used for the pattern on the Envision, an outdoor ball. At first glance, it looks like a maze, but it's really the words 'DREAM BIG.' That phrase is also on the Aspire, an indoor/outdoor ball that at first appears to be white or grey. Put it in the sunlight, however, and the phrases 'Dream Big,' 'Keep Going' and 'You're Going to Be Amazing Because You Are Amazing' emerge in bold, Fever-red letters. That last phrase is what Clark says to Boston before every game. Advertisement 'See, she loves it!' Clark said, pointing to a picture of her and Boston on the bench that was on the design team's planning whiteboard. 'We'll get her a free basketball. She'll love it. I'm going to put it in her locker.' The second edition of Caitlin Clark's signature basketball line with Wilson Sporting Goods launches June 23. Clark was personally involved in choosing the designs of the (shown left to right) Envision, Embrace, Oasis and Aspire balls. Because the Embrace is an official basketball, it cannot have any obvious detailing. Look closely, though, and you can see a pattern — again, light blue — within the Wilson logo and in what looks like a sunburst around the airhole. Both are the visual representation of the decibel level at a Fever game; the Wilson team took an audio file of the sound and made a graphic out of it. 'Fans really admire how she just plays so well under pressure,' Muscarello said. 'Sometimes it's OK to embrace the noise.' Advertisement Though Clark had been involved in every step of the design process, seeing the basketballs on a computer screen is very different than holding the finished product. Clark picked up each of the basketballs and examined it, taking note of the different details. She spun each ball and shifted it from one hand to the other. She also studied the design team's whiteboards, pointing to some of the notes and photos. Though she initially seemed most taken by the Oasis ball, she was fascinated with the Envision's UV technology and said she'd have loved to have had a basketball that revealed 'secret' messages when she was a kid. She also was impressed that Wilson's design team was able to turn a decibel meter reading into a design. Advertisement 'They're all unique in their own way. They all have different things I love about them,' Clark said. 'I think they each serve their own purpose and are different. Caitlin Clark takes a shot with the Embrace basketball from her latest collection with Wilson Sporting Goods. The ball features a graphic of the decibel level at an Indiana Fever game last season. 'So I guess you have to buy 'em all!' she added, laughing. While there will be some fans who buy the whole collection, whether to use or keep as memorabilia, Clark was conscious of not pricing any fans out of the new line. Two of the balls are less than $50, with the outdoor Envision ball costing $27.95 and the Oasis indoor ball priced at $49.95, while the Aspire outdoor ball is $54.95. The Embrace, which is Wilson's premium Evo NXT basketball, costs $124.95. Advertisement All the balls will be available on Wilson's website and at retail sporting goods stores. Last year's collection sold out almost immediately and, given the appetite for all things Clark, it's a good bet this one will, too. 'It's kind of cool to see how the balls came back and they feel very 'me,'' Clark told USA TODAY Sports. 'That's what I love about it. I feel like I'm sharing part of my life and my journey with people. "I could have never dreamed (as a child) to have something like this," she added. "It's pretty special." Follow USA TODAY Sports columnist Nancy Armour on social media @nrarmour. Get IndyStar's Indiana Fever and Caitlin Clark coverage sent directly to your inbox with our Caitlin Clark Fever newsletter. This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: Caitlin Clark's new line of Wilson basketball has personal touches, secret messages
