Beech Tree News Network

The American Flag was flying proudly on the Butler County Courthouse lawn on Friday.

The Butler County Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution held their annual Flag Day Program on June 14. Flag Chairman Lynda O’Driscoll opened the ceremony with a brief introduction and explanation of the importance of the flag.

“I am proud to be an American and want to celebrate it every chance I get,” said O’Driscoll.

Opening prayer was led by Judge-Executive Tim Flener and the pledge was led by Conner Hartford.

Sam Hartford, four year-veteran, gave a speech at the event on what the American Flag means to him and his family.

He recalled his love for the flag as a child and how he wanted to wear it as a cape to be a “superhero”. Hartford discussed how as he grew older, it did not lose its significance.

“Once I got older, I realized that it wasn’t a cape, but it had enough significance about it to make you a superhero, someone that was looked up to, someone that when people saw that you represented our flag, people looked at you as that person with a cape around your neck,” Hartford said. “To be what every little boy and little girl wants to be”

Hartford discussed his family history of veterans and said that he felt it was his obligation to serve the country as well.

He read a poem about the American Flag as he said it felt fitting to the situation. Hartford spoke on a brief discussion with his eight-year-old son who told him he wanted to be just like him. When his son told him that he wanted to teach his own son to honor the flag one day, Hartford said it meant the world to him.

O’Driscoll closed out the ceremony with an emotional remark on the importance of teaching others to honor the flag and stated that she wished more were in attendance to learn about the flag.

She posed a question, “Where will we be in the generations to come if we don’t teach our children to respect and honor our flag and the constitution?” she said.

“We need to be proud in who we are and stand firm in what we believe,” O’Driscoll said.

She also reminded the crowd of the importance of displaying and disposing of the flag properly and directed the audience to the American Flag Dropbox that was on the lawn for anyone who needed to bring an old flag to be disposed of.

Boy Scout Don Elmore and his mother Felicia Elmore handed out flags and home-made patriotic cookies outside of Rebecca’s on Main after the ceremony.