School dedicates flag flown in Afghanistan
By Tony Graf tgraf@stmedianetwork.com May 7, 2012 8:50PM
Attending last week’s flag dedication were Young School students Mackenzie Acton and Caeley Acton, and (from left) Alex Vicha, Joe Nichele and Bill Molony, members of Lockport Veterans of Foreign Wars Post No. 5788. | submitted photo
Updated: June 9, 2012 8:06AM
HOMER GLEN — William E. Young Elementary School has dedicated an American flag that was flown in Afghanistan for U.S. troops.
The flag was donated by Todd Swift, a retired F-15 crew chief, who is a cousin of Mackenzie Acton, a first-grader at Young School. Swift is currently doing civilian contracting at FOB Sentry Air Force Base in Jalalabad, Afghanistan.
On May 1, the school’s five first-grade classes attended a special ceremony conducted by Bill Molony, Joe Nichele and Alex Vicha, members of Lockport Veterans of Foreign Wars Post No. 5788.
Molony spoke to the students regarding flag respect and proper flag etiquette. Every first-grader received a booklet on flag etiquette.
Students then marched outside to the flagpole in front of the school, where the veterans conducted a salute while the flag was raised. The audience recited the pledge of allegiance.
Principal Michael Szopinski encouraged students to remember the price of our freedom on Memorial Day. He spoke of how fortunate we are to be living in the United States.
The war in Afghanistan began on Oct. 7, 2001, after terrorist attacks the previous month in New York and Washington, D.C. According to the Pentagon, more than 1,800 American troops have been killed across more than a decade of war in Afghanistan. Some 88,000 remain stationed there.
Young School, at 16240 S. Cedar Road in Homer Glen, was dedicated in May 2010, opened in fall 2010 and is nearing the conclusion of its second academic year.
The Associated Press contributed
to this report
