Before we get into the meat of the story, I am going to explain why it is a story worthy of nationwide news and why every single red-blooded American needs to not only read about it but follow in their footsteps.

Staff Sgt. Jared Ferguson, a former infantryman for the 1^st Infantry Division and Staff Sgt. Eric Barkhorn were attending a “Patriot Week” recruiting event at the local gun shop when a violent storm hit the town, bringing with it rain, strong winds and hail.  The storm knocked down the metal flag pole and the Army recruiters went outside during the storm to recover the American flag.

Strong wind gusts knocked down the flag flying outside Top Gun Shooting Sports in Taylor, Mich. What happened immediately after was caught on camera — and has now been viewed thousands of times.

“I saw the flag hit the ground and I wasn’t going to leave the flag on the ground,” ~Staff Sgt. Eric Barkhorn 

“Eric was out there very quickly, he got the flag pretty fast, I was out there shortly after him to help him get it.  Obviously a pretty tall metal pole, we didn’t want to have it in our hands too long with the strong storm coming through with the risk of lightning.  We got it back on the ground and was able to go for the flag itself and not the whole thing.” ~ Staff Sgt. Jared Ferguson

“The hail was pounding them and the big part of the storm was coming in about 10 seconds after they got in the building,” said Mike Barbour.

Mike Barbour, owner of Top Gun Shooting Sports, told FOX2 Detroit a new flag pole is up. He said the storm caused more than $100,000 in damage after it wrecked part of the building and the rooftop air conditioner units.

“It was pretty cool that the guys were there and did that and reacted as quick as they did,” Barbour said. “These guys go overseas they’ve all been on deployment at different times and they risk their life and now they’re back here doing recruitment work and they’re still risking their lives.”

And Top Gun was able to fix the pole just in time for a flag lowering ceremony at the end of their Patriot Week.

As for Sergeants Ferguson and Barkhorn, they say they’re surprised with all of the attention this has gotten — and say they were just doing what any soldiers would do in that situation.