Silver Spring Veterans Celebrate Flag Day (Video)
It’s a time many are taking to show their American pride and local veterans in Silver Spring took the opportunity to gather together for just that during a ceremony to honor “Flag Day,” the annual celebration to honor the adoption of the Stars and Stripes as the U.S. flag on June 14, 1777.
Veterans living at Riderwood Retirement Village participated in a program organized by the community’s “Veterans Legacy Group” that included music, the raising of the flag and the reading of the poem “I am Your Flag.”
In this MyMCMedia Extra, veterans who participated in the event talk about the importance of recognizing Flag Day:
“It’s a great event that really gets the whole community together to support the veterans and the pride that comes along with that,” said Heather Mello, Community Resources Coordinator at Riderwood Village.
Those taking part in the celebration said it gave them a chance to reflect on their service and share their stories with those in the community.
“This is part of my life,” said Robert Helm, a Riderwood Retirement Community resident and retired lieutenant commander with the U.S. Navy. “I have 22 years and six months involved and it was like old home week.”
Jules Balog, a Riderwood resident and retired commander with the U.S. Navy says he was grateful for the time he spent serving the country.
“It makes me proud and it makes other people proud that they’re veterans and you’ve done your service for your country,” Balog said. “After my term I had the opportunity to get out but I didn’t want to, I stayed in and I appreciated what I could do during my service and most of the veterans here are very proud of what they’ve done.”
See photos from the event below:
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