Canes' Gleason presents Olympic-signed flag to Marines

“What the soldiers are doing over there is so important for us as a country,” Gleason said after meeting  the10 Marines in a suite at the RBC Center on Thursday evening.

The flag, signed by members of the Olympic silver medalist U.S. hockey team, was presented to Lt. Col. John McDonough, of the 2nd Battalion, 2nd Marines Regiment based at Camp LeJeune.

“To know what these folks have going on – training for professional hockey, being part of the Olympic team – that they would take time to do something like that, it’s going to mean a lot to them,” McDonough said.

Gleason said more than 20 members of the team signed the flag. “I told them what it was for and before you knew it, it was signed,” he said.

Gleason also brought his Olympic silver medal for the Marines to view.

“I think Tim is natural born Marine that’s got some skating skills. That’s why he’s out here right now,” McDonough said.

McDonough plans to take the flag with him when he returns to Afghanistan in a couple weeks. It will be flown at one of the forward operating bases where Camp Lejeune Marines with the 2nd Battalion, 2nd Regiment, are stationed.

Over the course of the season, Gleason also hosts Wounded Veterans at the Hurricanes Home games.