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Dedication
From left: Tina Lajoie, Michael Rocchetti, Robert St Onge, Richard Morrison, Eugene Gerum, Robert Babitt, Dick Stapleton, Anne Arnold, and Quentin Frost.
DAYVILLE — The Mayotte-Viens American Legion Post 13 from Putnam recently presented and dedicated an American Flag to the residents at the Country Living Facility at Westview Commons.
According to Post 13 Commander Michael Rocchetti “a few month’s ago Robert St Onge, a Westview resident and member of Post 13, proposed the idea of presenting the flag to the Veteran’s group at Westview Commons – the Post membership unanimously approved of this”.
St Onge, a U.S. Army veteran and past Post 13 Commander (1968-1970), said: “We have a group of about 40 veterans at Westview Commons – representing all the branches of the U.S. military, and we needed an American flag for the large dining room where we commonly have patriotic obeservances on occasions such as Memorial Day, the 4th of July, and on Veterans Day, so this is wonderful – to have this big beautiful flag, a tremendous flag and flag stand.”
The flag was made in America, with stars and stripes fringed in gold. It stands about 8 feet tall, on a wooden flag pole, supported by a sturdy base. Louise Taylor, the Activities Director was thrilled: “We are so thankful that Post 13 donated this flag and presented it in such a solemn and dignified ceremony”.
Commander Rocchetti was the Master of Cermonies for the presentation and dedication of the flag which consited of an introduction, an invocation – which was given by Post 13 Junior Vice Commander Tina Lajoie— a recitation of a poem by Wilbur Nesbit called “Your Flag, My Flag”, and the dedication of the colors with a Pledge of Allegiance and a final salute to the flag. Ceremonial participants from Westview Commons included Robert St Onge (U.S. Army), Richard Morrison (USAF), Eugene Gerum (U.S. Army), Robert Babitt (U.S. Army), Dick Stapleton (USAF), Anne Arnold (USAF), and Quentin Frost (U.S. Army). “One of the purposes of our American Legion organization, as stated in the preamble to our constitution, is to ‘foster and perpetuate a 100 percent Americanism’, ceremonies such as this demonstrate what that’s all about. We love our country, and we are blessed and grateful to be Americans,” said Rocchetti.
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