An Army Reserve unit founded by Strom Thurmond will have a key role in today's service: Two of its former leaders will help Gov. Mark Sanford present the flags.

The 360th Civil Affairs Brigade was a favorite project of Thurmond's after he completed his World War II service.

The unit has blossomed into an elite group of teachers, administrators, agricultural specialists and economic developers who specialize in building governments.

Thurmond wanted the brigade involved in the funeral, a source close to the family said.

Retired brigade members Warren Abernathy and Don Fowler Sr. will represent the brigade in the funeral service. Both have political ties to Thurmond: Abernathy was a top aide to Thurmond starting in the 1940s; Fowler has worked with him as a lobbyist and as an adversary, in his role as former chairman of the Democratic National Committee.

"I am very honored, both from the standpoint of the unit and being involved in Senator Thurmond's funeral," Fowler said.

Most of the brigade's 104 members are deployed in Afghanistan in Operation Enduring Freedom. They are providing assistance to the new government and its ministries such as health, labor and education.

There they have helped build a school for 1,100 children in Jalalabad and reopened a school for girls in Konduz.

They also have worked in Desert Storm, Bosnia, Kosovo, Somalia and Haiti, Fowler said.

Fowler was commander of the unit from 1983 to 1987.

"Senator Thurmond has always taken a special interest in that part of the Army's activities," he said. "When I was commander, we named it the Thurmond Brigade."