Patriotic San Antonio glories in Old Glory

For more than 100 residents of San Antonio, Flag Day is a chance to show some serious love of their country.

By BRADY DENNIS, Times Staff Writer
© St. Petersburg Times
published June 15, 2002

[Times photo: Dan McDuffie] Katie Ray, 4, left, of San Antonio and Emilea Hill, 4, crane their necks to see the flag as they recite the Pledge of Allegiance during the Flag Day ceremony in San Antonio. More than 100 people from the area gathered for the event.

SAN ANTONIO -- They take their patriotism seriously here. This is San Antonio, after all, where city commissioners still open each meeting by playing country singer Lee Greenwood's song God Bless the USA.

So it seemed fitting Friday morning that more than 100 people gathered outside city hall to celebrate Flag Day.

As each speaker praised the virtues Old Glory symbolizes, all it took was a look around to see the diversity of people the flag represents.

A mayor and several city commissioners showed up. So did a sheriff and a preacher and a state senator.

So did young soldiers and old veterans and firefighters from the station next door. So did young beauty queens wearing their tiaras and Boy Scouts wearing their uniforms.

They came to hear 14-year-old Jacqui Urbuteit sing The Star-Spangled Banner as a veteran slowly raised a giant American flag over city hall. They came to hear 8-year-old Ashlee Shireman belt out America the Beautiful, the crowd joining her on the last verse.

They came to carry out a tradition observed across the United States since Congress officially recognized Flag Day by passing the National Flag Day Bill in 1949, during President Harry Truman's administration.

"It's very appropriate that we honor the flag today," said state Sen. Ginny Brown-Waite, R-Brooksville. "It's a symbol of our country, a symbol of freedom."

Pasco County Sheriff Bob White and Dade City Mayor Scott Black each reminded the crowd of the many sacrifices soldiers have made -- from the Revolutionary War to the Civil War to World War II to Vietnam -- to keep the flag flying.

"I think we sometimes forget the forever young on foreign shores who died so that our flag can fly," White said.

"It's appropriate as Americans, facing what we face today, that we remember."

Friday also marked the 227th birthday of the U.S. Army. On a table inside city hall sat a large cake to mark the occasion.

The red, white and blue icing made the design of an American flag. Of course.

-- Brady Dennis covers the city of Zephyrhills and crime in east Pasco. To reach him, call (352) 521-5757, ext. 23, or toll-free 1-800-333-7505, ext. 6108, then 23. His e-mail address is dennis@sptimes.com.

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