FORESTVILLE - Flag Day is a day reserved each year for honoring the American flag, a time-honored tradition Forestville celebrated a day early Wednesday.
The Girl Scouts of Forestville Elementary School led in singing the Star Spangled Banner to honor the veterans who served our country. Patricia Miller, a third-grade teacher, led this Flag Day program not only for the students, but for all of Forestville to remember as well.
Forestville's elementary students learned the significance of Flag Day.
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OBSERVER Photo by Jennifer Peters
From left, Michael Valvo, Patricia Miller and Mark Francis hold up the knitted blankets that were made by the knitting club in Forestville to honor veterans.
The original flag was made by Mary Pickersgill and is currently in the Smithsonian Museum in Washington, D.C. This 30-foot by 42-foot American flag was hoisted over Fort McHenry during the 1814 Battle of Baltimore.
The knitting club donated many crafted gifts to veterans including dish cloths, blankets, slippers and other items to show their support.
Students, faculty and parents all contributed to making two knitted blankets. One of the blankets honored Michael Valvo, a World War II veteran.
Valvo was born in Forestville in 1920 and received a blanket that was made for his service not only to the community, but also to the country.
Valvo touched the hearts of many in the audience with not only his story, but also how thankful he is that he was able to impact the world in such a powerful way.
"This is one of the greatest things that has happened to me," Valvo said. "I spent 3.5 years in the army. Stand up and fight for what you feel is right. This is a democracy. Let's keep it that way."
The other blanket was given to Mark Francis, the Volunteer Program Manager at the Veterans Affairs Medical Center in Buffalo.
"We take care of the veterans," Francis explained to the students.
He shared the volunteer work that he has done there for the past 32 years.
Next, third-grader Lucas Young, was announced as one of the winners of the What the Flag Means to Me essay contest.
"It represents the one nation under God that I am honored to be living in," he said.
