SOUTH EUCLID, Ohio -- “You’re a grand old flag, you’re a high-flying flag.”
I remember singing that to my immigrant parents as I stood on the plank steps leading to our basem*nt.
I was in first grade, and it was fun to share something I had learned at school.
The song, by George M. Cohan, had a few words I might not have been too familiar with: “emblem,” for example.
And, thinking back, I may have thought “grandold” was one word, something like a grandparent.
Children do grasp the gist of things, though, such as a lilting melody and celebratory words, and those gifts linger.
Even if at that time I did not fully know how important that flag was to my parents. Or my mother’s recollections of seeing the Statue of Liberty as they sailed into New York harbor one misty morning, my two older sisters (both less than age 4) in tow.
My father flew our family’s flag on every major holiday. He did so with a sense of respect and appreciation.
When I was born, just short of five years to the day after my family’s arrival in the United States, my father decorated our home with flags to celebrate the “Yankee” now in the household.
I sometimes share with others that I earned citizenship the easy way, just by being born.
My parents and two older sisters weathered a two-week voyage and many additional steps, including learning a new language.
What courage -- and with a new flag, to boot.
Respecting the flag includes disposing of it properly. A local group makes a point of ensuring the continuity of that valued tradition each year.
Flag Day Ceremony: Each year, the Mayfield Women’s Club, along with Mayfield Village, sponsors the American Flag Day Ceremony.
This year, the commemoration will be held at 6:30 p.m June 14 at the entrance to the Bruce Rinker Greenway Trail next to the Mayfield Village Fire Department, 770 SOM Center Road, and 911 Memorial Site.
Please bring your own chair to take part in this solemn gathering.
The ceremony will be performed by Boy Scout Troop 289. After the ceremony, the flags’ ashes will be retrieved and buried along the Greenway Trail.
If you have a distressed flag, the troop will accept it for the ceremony.
Distressed flags are also collected throughout the year and can be deposited in a marked container at the Mayfield Village Civic Center, 6622 Wilson Mills Road.
Splash time: Good news for South Euclid swimmers and splashers! Bexley Pool and Quarry Splash Park (4223 Monticello Blvd.) are open for the summer!
Passes are available for purchase using the online tool Sportsman. In-person sales are also available from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday at the South Euclid Community Center, 1370 Victory Drive; City Hall, 1349 South Green Road; and Bexley Park pool, 1630 Wrenford Road (during open hours).
A reminder that passes for seniors 60 and older are free of charge.
Richmond Heights parade rocks: Any day can hold a meaningful reminder of those who have served in the military.
My husband, Don; our dog, Happy; and I happened across the Richmond Heights parade while taking a walk on Memorial Day.
Lots of friendly waves were sent and received. It seemed to be a community event with many ages represented.
Thank you for all those who made this event smooth and significant.
Early heads-up: Later this month, Highland Heights resident Adam Rich has something new up his creative sleeve.
Stay tuned to a future Sun Messages column for the tantalizing details. Hint: LM30.
Kudos! Jenna Pusateri, Hailey Nelson, Lilianna DiBartolo, Alexa Draye, Andrew Pattie and Michael Welsh, all of Highland Heights, were named to the spring 2024 dean’s list at Bowling Green State University.
Ikennan Onu of Richmond Heights is also on the spring 2024 BGSU dean’s list, as are Danielle Wallace and Alexis Ochi of Mayfield Heights and Claire Valenza of Lyndhurst.
Daniel Corsillo and Emma Andrews, both of the 44143 ZIP code, also are on the BGSU dean’s list for spring.
Offering a shout-out and congratulations to all the local scholars -- as well as their families, friends and teachers, all of whom positioned these talented academic achievers for success.
Don’t be shy: Summer skies are often blue, the sun is not a stranger and the flowers are flowing. Where are your own Sun Messages? Keep me and our seven-city Hillcrest readers in the loop. Write to mariashinestewart@gmail.com.
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