The Xavier H.S. JROTC reenacts the flag raising at Iwo Jima by U.S. Marines during World War II at the 11th annual Flag Day celebration at Immaculate Conception School in Astoria. Photo Jason D. Antos Flag Day 2010 was celebrated on June 14 with much pomp and ceremony at the Immaculate Conception School, 21-63 29th St., Astoria. The event, which was organized by the Knights of Columbus Council No. 11449 and Columbian Squires Circle No. 4411, marked the 11th annual Flag Day ceremony held at the school.

The festivities began with music provided by the NYPD Marching Band, which was followed by the unfolding of the American and POW flags by the Xavier H.S. JROTC from Manhattan. The Catholic War Veterans of Astoria Post No. 1 then led all in attendance in the Pledge of Allegiance.

“This is a unique day when we recognize not only what our country represents but the origin of our nation’s great symbol,” City Councilmember Peter F. Vallone Jr. said.

Army Colonel Peter Sammarco spoke about the history of the American flag as the students of Immaculate Conception listened with great interest.

“Many believe that our nation’s flag was created by Betsy Ross,” Sammarco explained. “However, there is some debate over this still today.”

According to Sammarco it was Ross, a Washington seamstress who sewed the flag, but credit also belongs to Mary Pickersgill who created the flag for the War of 1812 that inspired Francis Scott Key to write “The Star Spangled Banner”, the national anthem. The 13 stripes represent the original colonies. The red stripes stand for hardiness and valor. The white stripes signify purity and innocence. The stars against the blue

field symbolize heaven and the goal all mankind has been striving for.

The JROTC performed a reenactment of the flag raising at Iwo Jima by U.S. Marines during World War II while Lieutenant Colonel Frank Licameli spoke about the Battle of Iwo Jima, the 65th anniversary of which is this year.

“This was the first battle fought on Japanese soil and was a symbol of our victory in the Pacific,” Licameli said.

A moment of silence was observed for Army Sergeant Patsy Rocco and Marine Lance Corporal Roger Dedon. Both men graduated from Immaculate Conception School and were killed in World War II and Vietnam, respectively.

Also honored was the family of Air Radio Man Hollis Hatton Hughes who was declared MIA after his bomber plane went missing during World War II. They were presented with the American flag by the school’s fourth and fifth graders.

Fourth grader Adelina Bracero read her winning essay, “What the American Flag Means to Me”.

The ceremony concluded with the playing of Taps by the NYPD Marching Band as the JROTC laid a memorial wreath.

“Many people see the flag as only a symbol,” the Reverend Monsignor Fernando Ferrarese said. “We see it as much more. To us it represents the freedom to live as we choose.”

The annual holiday celebrates the day that the flag of the United States was adopted when the Second Continental Congress passed a resolution on June 14, 1777. Although not an official federal holiday, Flag Day has been celebrated since 1861 when George Morris, a resident of Hartford, Connecticut organized the first community observance of the historic date. Morris’ idea for an annual holiday was inspired by the beginning of the Civil War and intended that the purpose of the holiday would be used to pray for the success of the federal armed forces and the preservation of the Union.

The week of June 14 is designated as National Flag Week. During this time, the president issues a proclamation urging U.S. citizens to fly the American flag for the duration of the week.