Our Story
Hello! Welcome to Forrest’s Flags! First and foremost, I want to THANK YOU for checking out my page! My name is Forrest Samalonis, and I was born and raised in Shamong, New Jersey. I enlisted in the United States Marine Corps in 1999, and was Honorably Discharged in 2007. I enlisted in the Reserves, and was fortunate that our unit was activated for Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Iraqi Freedom, which allowed us to assist in these operations.
During my time in the Marine Corps, I was able to see some areas of the world in which the conditions were less than ideal. Kosovo in 2002, and Iraq in 2003 to be specific. Those experiences really made me appreciate this Great Nation we live in even more!!
The day we left Iraq in 2003, is one of many days that will never leave me. There was a family who was living directly behind our basecamp. We protected them the whole time, as well as many others in the city of Nasiriyah. I was known to them as “Sammy” or “Sammy Van Damme”. The family did not want us to leave. The father and his children begged us not to go. The father hugged me and cried, as he said, “Please Sammy, do not go!” I didn’t have a choice though, I had to go. Another force had been in place, and it was our time to retrograde. Shortly after we left, we had gotten word that the basecamps, which were occupied by our Battalion, had all been overran. I just wish I could go back to the day we left, and bring that family back home with us!
Once we returned home, I returned to my normal Reserve Status for the next few years. I had this void. I felt that I had let that family down. I could not shake it! It still sticks with me to this day. As time went on, I continued to feel like I just couldn’t do enough for people. For the next fourteen years, I continued my journey to fill that void! Over time, I came across some non-profit organizations that help Veterans who struggle with PTSD, along with many other medical and physical issues. They never ask for a dime for any type of service provided. I will forever feel indebted to them!
It was on Mother’s Day, 2020 that I had an idea to surprise my Wife and make her a flag. It was then, that I realized...this is it! This is what I could do to help fill that void, to raise awareness for ongoing issues, and to try and make people smile! It is very therapeutic for me, and it just feels great to give back!!
My wife and I then began brainstorming one day, as the issue of child/human trafficking has been a huge problem. I reached out to Craig Sawyer, of Veterans for Child Rescue, and mentioned that I would like to assist in the fight!! He was on board, and away we went!!
Again, I’d like to THANK each and every one of you for checking out Forrest’s Flags!! Below are the links to our Facebook and Instagram page, as well as the non-profits that we support.
Semper Fi,
Forrest “Sammy” Samalonis Veteran/Owner