Published: November 07, 2007 09:59 am      

Please remember Veterans Day

Please remember this Veterans Day, Sunday, Nov. 11.

There will be several programs in the Clinton area honoring our veterans. Washington Middle School will have a veterans appreciation program and also, Thomson, Ill., and Erie school in their area honoring their veterans.

I hope many veterans young and old are present. From military cemeteries in France, the Pacific and the United States, our freedoms have a cost of young lives. When you see a veteran being from the “greatest generation” to veterans from the new generation, say thanks to them for what they have done for our freedoms and lives.

What should you do with your old, worn out American flags? Drop the unserviceable flags at Amvets Post 28, 1317 S. 17th St., in Clinton where they have a mail dropbox which had been repainted where flags can be deposited outside the post. Also, flags can be dropped off at my office, the Clinton County Veterans Affairs Office, 1900 N. Third St., Clinton.

On Veterans Day, Nov. 11, at dusk members of Amvets Post 28 will conduct a ceremony to have a dignified disposal of unserviceable American flags. A flag may be a piece of cloth, plastic or a beautiful banner, it’s real value may be trifling or great, but it’s real value is beyond price. For it is a precious symbol of all that we are, our comrades have worked for, lived for and died for a free nation of free men and women, true to the faith of the past, devoted to ideals and practice of justice, freedom and democracy. A flag may become unserviceable in a worthy cause and should be honorably retired from further service. All post and public are invited. The post will have a paid lunch.

We are still in need of volunteer van drivers to the Iowa City Veterans Administration and Bettendorf Clinic. If interested or any questions, contact Chuck Junge at Junge’s Barber Shop in Camanche at 259-1033 or my office 242-1151.

God Bless America, our flag, all veterans past, present and future and our MIA/POWs of our beloved America.

Edward Staszewski,

Director of Clinton County Veterans Affairs