Flag Day Is Celebrated Saturday
The Monticello Kiwanis Club held its annual Flag Day Celebration last Saturday, June 13 at noon on the Square.
The Flag Day celebration, which is normally held on Flag Day, June 14, was held a day early, to coordinate with the Market Festival on the Square. Local musician Les Steele played patriotic music and sang as flags were handed out to each individual.
Mayor Glenn Newsome welcomed all who were present and gave a special thanks to the soldiers, recognized the presentation of colors and noted that the flag stands for freedom. He also took the time to thank the Kiwanis for hosting such an event and to Dr. Michael Rossi and all those people who help children in the community. He thanked the Commander of the American Legion, Fae Casper for coming to speak. He recognized local politicians and others who were in attendance and thanked Greg Williams for the county and city cooperation.
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Otis Clark with the Kiwanis spoke on the colors and noted that they were already posted. He said that every year the Dobbins Air Base Honor Guard had been at Flag Day but with all of the recent deaths of local soldiers, all of the guard had prior commitments. He also gave a brief history of Flag Day, with the local observance being started by Al Frost, a Kiwanian and WWII veteran.
The attendees then joined in saying the pledge, and Unita Harris, a rising junior at JCHS sung the Star Spangled Banner.
Dr. John Brown, pastor of Monticello First United Methodist Church, gave the invocation.
Mr. Steele provided more patriotic music, which included America the Beautiful, and God Bless the USA.
After the music, Walter Smith of the Kiwanis Club announced that Kiwanis gave away six first place prizes for entries from their fifth grade essay contest “What the American Flag Means to Me.” The student winners received a check for $25 and a certificate, and a trophy award from the Monticello Kiwanis Club.
Two of the seven winners were present at Flag Day and read their essays aloud to the attendees. Kristina Rossi and Ragan Duke were the readers and their essays along with the additional five are printed in this edition of The Monticello News (see page 6).
After the reading of the essays Jehan El-Jourbagy, Kiwanis president, introduced the American Legion Commander Fae Casper.
Ms. Casper thanked the Kiwanis for having her. She spoke on the flag herself. She said “We honor the flag of the United States not because of the day, but because it represents our freedom.”
She talked on freedom and noted that freedom was granted to even those who chose to protest. She quoted a poem that notes America’s flag files because of freedom. She also mentioned the flag pen controversy during election time, and stated we’re all American citizens.
She spoke of how all citizens stand for something. We’re all something, be it mayor, office workers, firefighters, stay at home parents, but we all are considered American. Our country gives us numerous opportunities to be what ever we choose.
She said that we as a people should be the ones who enforce that the flag burning law stay in place. She said that as American citizens we should protect the flag at all costs, she noted that growing up had she not shown respect to the flag her daddy would have “tanned her hide.”
Sgt. William Hearney who was depicted in the film Glory, gives the sacred image of the planting of the flag with the message it will be carried on. He was the one who picked up the flag when the soldier carrying it was shot and went down. He picked the flag up and charged ahead. She said that America and its flag are worth fighting for. The flag is in all hearts of all veterans, she said.
She noted the tradition that in New York and all over the U.S. flags are placed on veterans graves on Memorial and Veterans days.
Woodrow Wilson was quoted saying the embodiment of our citizens and what a history we represent from liberalism to our war on terrorism.
We are all created equal—both the poor and the wealthy receive some election ballot. She ended by saying the flag represents all of us, we should fly it high and proud.
In conclusion of the Flag Day festivities Mr. Smith and Mr. Clark handed out awards to the two essay winners, and Jehan El-Jourbagy thanked the community for their support, and invited all to join in singing God Bless America. The Plant Parlor then provided free ice cream for all who attended.
