The American Flag Still Inspires

The American flag symbolizes many different things, and Collier residents gathered Sunday afternoon to speak about what exactly it means to them.

Collier Township, which is considered the held a special ceremony at the township’s veterans memorial. Flag Day, which is June 14, officially became a national holiday in 1949 after the tireless efforts of William Kerr, who lived in Rennerdale for 17 years.

Gerhard Egri spoke passionately about coming to this country and spending five years learning the customs and language before becoming naturalized citizen. He doesn’t take the flag for granted and said he appreciates the country’s values.

“As such, I hold what the flag represents very near and dear to my heart,” Egri said.

He served in the U.S. Air Force and said it is still a privilege to fly the flag.

“It is life as I know it today,” Egri said.
Another speaker, Mary Lou Kientz, used her time to challenge those in the 50 people in the audience to volunteer for good causes within the community.

She said volunteers are the backbone of the community and asked those listening to find good causes such as helping form a historical society, staffing the new community center and participating in local government. Kientz also brought a stack of voter registration forms and a volunteer sign-up sheet.

“I’m here to recruit you back into volunteering,” she said. “We need volunteers here in Collier Township. We need people to participate more.”

Volunteers helped build the beautiful war memorial that sits near the township building, Doreen Ducsay told the crowd that gathered around it. She said the community and local businesses rallied around the plan more than a decade ago.

“This was no longer a one-man job as William Kerr had done (lobbying for Flag Day),” she said. “It became a community job.”

County Councilman Michael Finnerty urged those to not take the flag and its values for granted.  He said America is still seen as inspiration around the world despite the many problems it faces.

“It’s something that inspires people,” he said. “It inspires because it means freedom.”

At the beginning of the ceremony, Boy Scout Troop 860 raised a new American flag given to the township by Congressman Tim Murphy. The flag flew over the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C.