For veterans, flag a symbol of freedom

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Members of Seaford American Legion Post 1132 shared what Flag Day means to them.
Members of Seaford American Legion Post 1132 shared what Flag Day means to them.
Rebecca Anderson/Herald

For some people, June 14 will just be another ordinary Tuesday. For others, it will mean a lot more. “The American Flag is a symbol of freedom and a symbol of this country,” said Bill Harms, Commander of Seaford American Legion Post 1132. “It’s what we’ve fought for and what many have died for.”

With Memorial Day just passing and the Fourth of July on the horizon, many people forget about the small, yet significant holiday that lies in between. June 14 is Flag Day. Although no one is off from work or school, the importance of the day rings loud for veterans and stationed military members all over the United States.

“What’s nice to see, is the Scouts that place these flags on veterans’ tombstones and understanding why they are doing it,” Harms said. “It gives you this great feeling, when you see all of this color flying around.”

For the members at the Seaford American Legion on Penatiquit Avenue, Flag Day is a time of remembrance and a time to commemorate those who have died for the many rights and freedoms of American citizens.

“The flag means everything,” third vice commander and color guard member Charles Sammut said. “Even though Flag Day is in the middle of the week and people are very rushed, we should all try to hang flags outside. Flag Day is important because it honors those who fought and died trying to hold it up in battle.”

Every year, the legion has an essay contest that is based off different aspects of Americanism. “I try to always pick topics that relate to the flag, so we definitely emphasize that here,” Post Chaplain Charles Wroblewski said. “Flag Day is a holiday to honor the flag, but really, we like to honor it here every day.

The legion members also dispose of unused flags in a respectful way to preserve the flag’s meaning. “We collect old flags here and give them to the Boy Scouts to retire and burn them,” Wroblewski said. “It’s almost a type of honorable ceremony.”

Many of the veterans at the Seaford American Legion would like to see Flag Day be celebrated more. Just like Memorial Day and Veteran’s Day, this holiday encompasses that same type of patriotism, they explained.

“I’d like to see the communities put a flag out on every flag pole or light pole,” Harms said. “It’s spell-binding to walk or ride along and see all of the colors.”

Harms said there will also be close to 60 flags set out by the Seaford train station for the annual Field of Honor in November, done in partnership with the Seaford Wellness Council to coincide with Veteran’s Day. The flags are just another reminder of the liberties that many died protecting.

“I think that Flag Day should be incorporated more in schools and small gatherings,” Wroblewski added. “Everyone should try to do something special.”