Remember to honor, reflect on Old Glory on Flag Day
June 13, 2012 2:08PM
June 14 is Flag Day, a time to reflect on the meaning of Old Glory.
Updated: July 15, 2012 6:29AM
Today is Flag Day, a time when Americans reflect on the foundations of the nation’s freedom. The flag of the United States represents freedom and has been an enduring symbol of the country’s ideals since its early days.
During such events, Americans also remember their loyalty to the nation, reaffirm their belief in liberty and justice and observe the nation’s unity.
Many people in the United States honor this day by displaying the American flag at homes and public buildings. Other popular ways of observing this holiday include flag-raising ceremonies; Flag Day services; school quizzes and essay competitions about the American flag; musical salutes; street parades; and awards for special recognition.
Organizations such as the National Flag Day Foundation are actively involved in coordinating activities centered on the event and keeping the flag’s traditions alive. Following Flag Day is Honor America Days, a 21-day period through Independence Day to honor America. During this period, people hold public gatherings and activities to celebrate and honor the nation.
Flag Day is a nationwide observance, but it is not a public holiday in many parts of the United States. It is a legal holiday in a few areas in the U.S., such as Montour County in Pennsylvania.
Each year, the president is requested to issue a proclamation to call on government officials to display the flag of the United States on all government buildings on Flag Day and to urge U.S. citizens to observe Flag Day as the anniversary of the adoption on June 14, 1777, by the Continental Congress of the Stars and Stripes as the official flag of the United States.
The American flag, also nicknamed “Old Glory” or “star-spangled banner,” has changed designs over the centuries.
It consists of 13 equal horizontal stripes of red alternating with white with a blue rectangle in the canton bearing 50 small, white, five-pointed stars. The 50 stars represent the 50 states in the United States and the 13 stripes represent the original 13 colonies that became the first states in the Union.
Happy Flag Day to all!
Welcome home
The VFW Post 5422 is having a big welcome home celebration for three Marines at 8 p.m. Friday. They were discharged in late fall 2011. This request came from a Coal City man through a letter sent to the VFW on June 8 who only asked that we applaud and cheer for them as they enter the VFW Post 5422, at 557 W. Baltimore St.
The Post offered to do one better: a welcome home celebration.
The Marines are Jeff Gustafson from Troy; Lester Mollers from New York and currently living in Long Beach, Calif., and Aron Michalski from Plainfield currently living in Texas. They lost their friend Mark Goyet from Texas.
These four Marines were in boot camp together and in the same squad during their years of service. Goyet decided on a short tour of duty in Afghanistan last spring and within a few weeks was shot and killed June 25, 2011, a true warrior of our nation. He was laid to rest in Texas. His squad Marines were not able to attend any services for Goyet because they were on duty. The VFW Post will honor Goyet with his name on a sign.
The regular fish fry will close at 7:30 p.m. to get ready for this wonderful but sad event.
Military members sought
The New Lenox Community Park District will host a Military Tribute during this year’s Proud American days. The event will be held at 11:30 a.m. July 29.
To reach out to as many past and present members of the military as possible, the park district would like to compile a list of names and addresses so formal invitations may be sent.
If you are interested in joining, send your name and address to llotz@newlenoxparks.org. In addition, if you know of other members of the military who may be interested pass this information on to them.
Jean Edwards is looking for veterans to write about in this column. She can be reached at 815-773-7172 or jedwards@stmedianetwork.com.
