 | Frank Bergquist graduated from Eddyville, IA, high school in 1958. After graduation, he entered the Army, serving 20 years in Missouri, Maryland, New Mexico, Germany, Iowa, Turkey, Kansas, S.E. Asia, and finally retiring in 1978 in Louisiana. Before retiring, Frank was assigned as an ROTC instructor at WSU and Kemper Military School until 1974. In 1978 he served as the Non-Commissioned officer in charge of operations at Fort Polk, LA. He has served as the Veterans Counselor (DVOP) with the Kansas Job Service Center National Service Office, with the Disabled American Veterans at the VA Regional Office in Wichita; Veterans Employment and Training Coordinator with the US Dept. of Labor at Ft. Riley, KS; Service Coordinator with Cerebral Palsy Research Foundation; Dept Adjutant-Treasurer and the Dept. Executive Director Dept. of Kansas Disabled American Veterans; and past President of the Wichita Civil War Round Table. Currently he is doing graduate work as an instructor in Genealogy and Military History at Wichita State and Kansas State Universities, and is the CEO for the Disabled American Veterans Thrift Stores in Wichita, KS. Bergquist has an AA from Kemper Military School and College from Boonville, MO. and a BGS from Wichita State University. He can be reached by telephone at 316-262-6501. He is located at 926 N. Mosley Wichita 67214. |
Veteran Affairs
2009-05-01 11:45:00
How did Flag Day begin?
How did the national celebration of Flag Day begin?
Answer: On June 14th, 1885, Bernard J. Cigrand, a 19 year old teacher at Stony Hill School, placed a 10-inch, 38-star flag in a bottle on his desk then assigned essays on the flag and its significance. This observance commemorated Congress’s adoption of the Stars and Stripes as the flag of the United States on June 14, 1777. This observance was also the beginning of Cigrand’s long years of fervent and devoted effort to bring about national recognition and observance of Flag Day. The crowning achievement of his life came at age fifty when President Wilson, on June 14, 1916, issued a proclamation calling for a nationwide observance of Flag Day.
Our flag deserves respect because it reflects what we stand for, who we are and how we got here. Look at the design:
DEEP BLUE STANDS FOR HONOR: In the upper left hand corner is a canton of deep blue. Deep blue stands for the honor of the countless men and women who died for the ideals that make America great, and gave all they had so that we could be free.
WHITE STARS INDICATE DIVERSITY: Splattered over the canton of deep blue are 50 white stars, each representing a state in the United States. Each star stands for the diversity of the states, we are different peoples, but alike in that we are all Americans.
SEVEN RED STRIPES REPRESENT THE PRICE OF FREEDOM:
We know that nothing comes for free, everything has a price, including freedom. The seven red stripes represent the blood that Americans shed while they have kept our Nation free.
SIX WHITE STRIPES REPRESENT THE PURITY OF SPIRIT:
America was founded by people that felt they deserved something better, they were pioneers with undaunted spirit.
TOGETHER THE RED, WHITE AND BLUE OF OUR AMERICAN FLAG SYMBOLIZE WHAT IS IMPORTANT TO US:
Our ideals of right over might; our ceaseless belief in freedom, justice and equal opportunity under the law. All we hold sacred, religious principals, freedom of worship, and faith in God. We must respect our flag. How you may ask? Stand and hold your hand over your heart when she passes. Each time you hear the National Anthem or Taps hold yourself in silent tribute. Fly the flag on holidays and as directed by our President, and especially on June 14th as Flag Day is celebrated.
