Jun. 13, 2018
By: Rep. Doyle Heffley (R-Carbon)
A little more than 130 years ago, the idea of setting aside a day to honor the American flag was born. The first Flag Day, or Flag Birthday, as it was called at the time, was celebrated by school-aged children in Wisconsin. June 14 was selected to commemorate the date since it was on that day in 1777 when the American flag as we know it today was adopted. Since the first celebration, Flag Day has spread across the country.
However, there has been some controversy among those who have chosen to disrespect all the flag stands for and the people who sacrificed and perished to defend it.
Recently, I was one of several speakers, including four generals from our armed forces, at a ceremony to unveil a plaque at the Gold Star Garden in Pocono Raceway. As the ceremony went on, more and more people gathered to pay their respects to the families that lost loved ones in defense of our nation.
During another ceremony before the race got underway, Taps was played. As race fans entered the grandstands, they stopped and stood still. I didn’t see anybody walking as the haunting notes echoed across the track. One father came in with his young son and stopped, nudged his son to take off his hat and the two stood silently, as a sign of respect to those who gave their all for us.
These gestures may seem small - but they show the respect our soldiers, sailors, airmen and women and the flag deserve. Our flag flies free because of all the men and women through the years who have died defending it.
On this Flag Day, I urge you to pause to reflect on what our flag means to all of us. It is more than just a piece of cloth – it stands for our freedoms, our nation and all those who died for it and, most importantly, it represents all that is great and good in this country.
Representative Doyle Heffley
122nd District
Pennsylvania House of Representatives
Media Contact: Greg Gross
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