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Never
Forget Flag endorsed by American Legion District Nine The Armed
Forces Memorial Tribute Flag has received new and important recognition.
Eberly
has also made his poems "Soldier" and "Emblem" a part
of the Never Forget Flag presentation.
Eberly has named an accompanying card collection "From My Heart to the Flag, a patriotic collection of greeting cards and keepsakes created in honor of the United States Soldier." The greeting cards feature the poems, with art by Alexis B. Sterry, and are available on the Web site. To view more of Sterry's artwork, visit her Web site at http://sketchesbyalexis.orbitalsunrise.net. For information about the flag, and the continuing wave of acceptance of it by Americans from many organizations and varied walks of life, visit www.neverforgetflag.us. American
Legion The local post composed the resolution by which the flag could be considered for approval by the national convention, and that document was forwarded to the county level. The next meeting of the Dutchess County American Legion was held at the Pawling post, and on Feb. 16, the county delegates voiced their approval with a standing ovation and animated acclamation. Dutchess County Commander Mike Tokarz said afterward, "You saw it in their acceptance tonight, that the members feel that the flag represents something that has been missing. With POWs and MIAs, we still hold out hope. This flag represents the people who haven't come home, and who won't come home. Every time we see it, it will remind us." Tokarz and Bruce Donegan presented the flag resolution at the following meeting of District Nine of the American Legion of New York, which is composed of the commanders from Dutchess, Putnam, Westchester, Orange and Rockland Counties. On March 13, the county delegates voted unanimously to approve the resolution from the Pawling post, to have the flag nationally recognized by the American Legion. Tokarz said the flag met with immediate and full approval, with no concerns of any kind. The resolution has been forwarded to the American Legion Department of New York, where it could be considered as early as the annual state convention this July in Binghamton, Tokarz said. The national convention is held annually, with this year's gathering in Hawaii, but that event is staged soon after the state convention. It is likely that the flag, if it is endorsed at the state level, would be on the docket of resolutions at the national convention in the following year. White
House Commission This commission has enacted a link to the Web site for the Never Forget Flag, an indication of the respect the commission has for this venture. From the commission Web site: "The White House Commission on Remembrance, established by Congress, honors America's fallen and recognizes our veterans and those who continue to serve our country. Its purpose is to promote the values of Memorial Day by acts of remembrance throughout the year and to encourage Americans to demonstrate their gratitude by giving back to our Nation. "The Commission is dedicated to educating this and future generations of Americans to remember the sacrifices and costs in human life made to preserve our liberties. We want to instill in them an understanding of what it means to be an American."
Editorial
We won't forget Dying in combat is the ultimate sacrifice to one's country. That's why the Armed Forces Memorial Tribute Flag (the "Never Forget" Flag) is a just and important way of remembering those lost. Created by Marcella and Michael Farrell of Wassaic as a symbol of recognition of those who die in war, the flag has been steadily making its way through the nation's American Legion on its way to national approval. Last December, local American Legion Post # 215 gave the flag its official endorsement. Then, in Febuary, the flag was endorsed by Dutchess County American Legion. Now state American Legion District Nine, made up of the commanders from five counties, has added its approval. Along the way, poetry by young Pawling resident Kevin Eberly has been added to the flag package, making it more than just a military statement. Eberly's moving work, along with the spirit of the flag, has made it a testment to the values we take pride in. It represents the passion people have for the heroes who died defending our country. We hope that the flag continues to be approved to gain state and nation-wide acceptance. We endorse this contemporary gesture, not just because our neighbor's ideas launched it and added to it, but because remembering those who don't return is as important as cherishing those who do. ©Pawling News Chronicle 2005
The Never Forget Flag
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