There are many holidays Americans celebrate that recognize the efforts and sacrifices of our armed forces.There is Veterans’ Day, which honors our war veterans, and Memorial Day, which honors deceased veterans.
However, there is a lesser-known holiday that honors the very object that our veterans have fought for – the American flag. The holiday is Flag Day.
To that end, the 63rd Annual American Legion Flag Day Parade was held last week. The parade began in North Bergen and wound its way through Guttenberg and West New York.
According to www.flagday.org, "The National Flag Day Foundation is committed to educating all Americans about the history and origin of the flag as well as those major historical events that have made this a free nation of both diversity and national unity."
The parade, co-sponsored by the American Legion (www.legion.org) and the Joint Veteran’s Affairs Committee of West New York, is important in Hudson County and, according to parade organizers, reclaiming a popularity it enjoyed many years ago, most likely a result of the Sept. 11 attacks.
According to Flag Day parade Committee Chairman Charles Faistl, who has coordinated the parade for over 20 years and has been a member of the American Legion for 46, "I’m glad that the three communities see that it is fit to have this parade. It means so much to everyone, especially now. It’s an outlet for everyone to show their patriotism and support."
Faistl’s involvement in the parade goes back many years. Said Faistl, "I was a member of the American Legion when I moved to North Bergen, that post was very active in the parade and it just built from there."
Because it is very popular to fly the flag these days, various veterans’ groups are enjoying a renaissance of recognition after years of being cast aside.
Said Faistl, "Of course it makes me happy [to see the flag]. The more flags that are flying, the better. You’d be surprised at how many people don’t know about Flag Day or if they do know about it, don’t know what it means."
Said Rudy Klima, a member of the North Bergen American Legion Post 33 and a veteran of World War II, "This is the greatest parade there is. It’s the most patriotic thing. People now have their flag flying all year round, not just on holidays. To see that, see people participating by flying their flags, is really inspirational. We have to emphasize the parade."
Two weeks ago Kilima received the New Jersey Distinguished Medal from the State Department of Veterans Affairs during a ceremony held in Bayonne. He was one of 175 ex-soldiers to receive the honor.
Unfortunately, this year’s parade was somewhat marred by the appearance of severe weather. Folks ran for cover as the rain moved in and reassembled after the storm passed.
Said parade Coordinator Charles Faistl, "The only problem we had was with the weather. Fortunately, the weather cleared and the parade went on. There weren’t as many people as usual but we did OK."
According to Flag Day Committee member John O’Dell, an Army veteran, "We have to try to keep the spirit of patriotism alive in these trying times. I grew up in Hoboken and we used to have all kinds of parades celebrating America. What we’re doing now is trying to bring the young kids together with the older folks. Our group is trying to keep the past alive and show what the flag really means. We had people coming from pretty far away to attend the parade. It makes you proud."
West New York Commissioner of Public Safety Lawrence Riccardi marched in the parade and has participated in it for several decades. Said Riccardi, "I’ve been going to this parade for over 50 years. I remember when I was a kid that the parade ended in Miller Stadium and it was packed. You couldn’t get in. I think we should try to make more of an effort to make people aware, both of the parade and of the flag and what it means."