Sherpa scales Mount Everest with flag for Global Strike Airmen Published June 25, 2012 By Air Force Global Strike Command Public Affairs BARKSDALE AIR FORCE BASE, La. -- Mr. Chhiring Dorje Sherpa, of Nepal, climbed Mount Everest recently with a special flag, a coin and one goal -- to encourage Airmen everywhere, to never quit. Sherpa, along with fellow climber Tom Whittaker, the first amputee to summit Mount Everest, will present the U.S. and command flag to Air Force Global Strike Command in front of hundreds of Airmen, here June 27 at 9:30 a.m. The event is the latest initiative in the command's "Never Quit" initiative aimed at promoting resiliency in Airmen. Sherpa unfolded the seamlessly woven American-Air Force Global Strike Command flag while at the summit of Mount Everest to pay tribute to the amazing work Air Force Global Strike Command Airmen accomplish on a daily basis, to keep the world safe, said Robi Powers, Founder of American300. While he brought the flag home, he left the special coin atop Mount Everest. That single coin had passed through the hands of thousands of Airmen at all of AFGSC's five bases, during the "Never Quit Promise Tour," during which Airmen promised that they would take on the challenge of self-improvement and fulfilling a lifelong dream, one of honor and courage. They made this promise after hearing testimonies from Tom Whittaker, and military warriors who had overcome extreme challenges to achieve great personal victories. Some of the mentors who have served as guest speakers at the command's five bases included Olympic and XGames athletes: Sean Colgan, Dan Beery, Mike Schultz, Erin Simmons and Kurt Yaeger, in addition to former military members such as Mad Max Mullen, a former Army ranger, and William 'Spanky' Gibson the first above knee amputee to redeploy with his prosthetic to the fronts lines in Iraq among others. Sherpa, who has climbed Mount Everest 12 times, has a profound love of America and enjoys sharing his experiences to encourage members of the U.S. Armed Forces to overcome challenges they may face, noted Powers. The guest speakers were organized by Powers and the all volunteer American300 Foundation.