Students' poetry salutes Old Glory

Boy Scouts Jeff Kreiter, 13, from left, Zach Taylor, 13, Brandon Honrath, 12, and Patrick Moynihan, 17, helped to present a giant flag during the Pledge of Allegiance at Vancouver’s 14th consecutive Flag Day program on Sunday. the event was held at the Officers Row bandstand. (Photos by Andrea J. Wright for The Columbian)

Even the carefully prepared, eloquent remarks of the adults couldn't outdo what the children said during Sunday's Flag Day celebration at the Officers Row bandstand.

"Resembling freedom for all who live, this one flag has so much to give," said Olivia Dietzman, a student at Orchards Elementary School. She and five other winners of a Flag Day poetry contest shared their winning entries.

"When I see our flag, I see all the dying people who were in war for us," said Lindsey Hughes, who also attends Orchards.

"I love her because of who she is and how she is," recited Joanna Alvarez.

That pretty much summed up the theme of the afternoon event, which was organized by the Fort Vancouver National Trust and presented by Veolia Water, a global company that supplies municipal drinking water and treats wastewater.

"The flag is a symbol of all we hold dear," said Tom Burns of Veolia's Vancouver office. "It's a heartfelt issue."

His words seemed to ring true with the crowd of about 300 who gathered for the hour-long program, which included speeches, patriotic music from The Columbia River Chorus of Sweet Adelines International and the 204th U.S. Army Reserve Band, and, promptly at 4 p.m., the recitation of the Pledge of Allegiance. The honor of leading the pledge fell to Staff Sgt. Patricia Haddon of Vancouver, who recently returned from a tour of duty in Baghdad. As she led the crowd in the familiar words, a giant flag was displayed by two dozen Boy Scouts. Another large banner hung high in the sky from the tip of a Vancouver Fire Department aerial ladder truck.

Vancouver Mayor Royce Pollard explained that the 4 p.m. "Pause for the Pledge" was set in 1980. Vancouver began recognizing Flag Day in 1990 by city proclamation, and an organized program has been presented here yearly since 1995.

Bill DeBerry, a Fort Vancouver National Site ranger and program coordinator, noted that Sunday's ceremony took place on the parade ground of the first permanent U.S. military post in the Pacific Northwest. The Army raised the Stars and Stripes at Vancouver Barracks in 1849, and "the flag has flown over this site ever since that day," he noted.

The moment wasn't lost on the youthful essay winners.

"It shows freedom and liberty and prideness," said Anthony Harris of Marshall Elementary School, reading from his winning poem.

"Every day when I see the flag so strong, it makes me feel nothing is wrong," said Sara Winstanley, who also attends Marshall.

Or consider this from Marshall student Autumn Beck:

"It really fills my heart with glee — I am free."

Craig Brown: craig.brown@columbian.com; 360-735-4514.