by Cathy Slade

Years ago, throughout the country, celebrations were held in schools to honor our country’s Stars and Stripes on Flag Day, June 14. That tradition slowly faded, as many do when times and customs change. Sometimes they seep back in though, as is the case in Roslindale.

For the third year in a row, the Roslindale Board of Trade held celebrations honoring Old Glory at our local elementary schools and at Adams Park in Roslindale Village. Recalling how he attended Flag Day ceremonies every year in school, Board of Trade Past President Lou Murray wanted to reinstitute this patriotic practice. He approached fellow members and asked for their support. His idea was endorsed wholeheartedly. Thus, we have the rebirth of this tradition here in Roslindale.

The programs at the schools and Adams Park are pretty much the same. Students, teachers and administrators sing the National Anthem, God Bless America, America the Beautiful, and You’re a Grand Old Flag, wave individual flags and, of course, pledge allegiance to the flag. Students recite poems and readings about the history of Old Glory and how the different flags were adopted as America’s symbol of unity, freedom and bravery. People learn about Betsy Ross and why the Stars and Stripes are the colors they are and what they symbolize.

I attended the ceremonies at two schools. At the Phineas Bates School, students gathered outside in the sunshine. One fifth-grader, Alex Saintcyr read a poem and stated he had enjoyed the poem recited by the kindergarten class. Juna Gjata, a visually impaired young girl who plays the guitar, recorder and piano and who received the Mayor’s Award for Academic Achievement, said that Miss “C” sounded good and even offered a suggestion for next year! At Sacred Heart, the students enrolled in scouting programs formed a color guard and processed to the stage of the auditorium to begin the program. Father Tim Kearney said the opening prayer.

In Adams Park, preschoolers from ABCD Head Start and students from the Charles Sumner School participated in the festivities. Along with songs, stories, and poems, the West Roxbury High School ROTC raised and lowered the flag, and asked the help of young students in folding the flag. Wade Borland, Senior Chief Petty Officer Retired, offered the significance of the thirteen folds of the flag.

Holding special meaning for Board of Trade president, Lisa Modecker, is the fact that her brother-in-law, Richard Rugg, donated this particular flag to Roslindale, and it was hoisted for the ceremony. One of the last places he visited before leaving for eighteen months in Iraq was Roslindale. When he heard that Roslindale was celebrating Flag Day, he sent over a flag that had been carried aloft on night combat mission number O43O over Fallujah, Abu Ghraib, Bagdad International Airport, Victory Base, and Baghdad in Iraq in UH60 Blackhawk helicopter 80-23495 on April 30, 2006. The flag came with a certificate of authenticity and a photo of four helicopter pilots holding the flag.

I knew many of the adults in the crowd, some of whom are recent immigrants. There were people who had known that the event was scheduled and others who simply happened upon it. Some asked the purpose of the event. All were excited and thought it was wonderful of the Board to sponsor it.

Expectedly, veterans were very touched by the ceremony. Sgt. Kenneth Jameson of District 5 said, “I’m a disabled veteran and I get goose bumps when I hear these songs.” He added that “More schools and organizations should get involved like Roslindale does. It’s nice to see kids waving flags and singing with smiles on their faces.” A veteran who fought in Italy and Africa during World War II said the event was “very well done and good for the kids, as well as us oldsters.”

Let’s hope this new-found tradition in Roslindale enjoys a long life and acts as a trend-setter, spreading to other communities. In times like these, we should be grateful for the sacrifices people have made and are still making, so that we may experience the freedoms and peace we have in America today.