The first day of September was met with blue skies and a warm breeze. This made the setting perfect for residents of Valley Park Retirement Home, as they were able to enjoy a flag-raising ceremony just outside their doors.
There to conduct the ceremony, complete with a bugle and American flag, was Veterans of Foreign Wars Memorial Post 4345 Adjutant George Shelley.
As Old Glory rose along the pole, one resident and U.S. Navy veteran, Hubert Hickam, reflected on what those colors mean.
"I was in for two years," Hickam said. "And those were the best two years of my life. We were in Korea, China, Burma and India. What we did was transport troops for China to fight the communists. We'd put them on a beach and it was up to them, after that."
Hickam, originally from Lupus, said the flag-raising ceremony was "so very heartwarming."
Activities Director Missy Williams said the small crowd certainly appreciated the event.
"One resident even came back in and was singing the National Anthem," Williams laughed.
She explained the facility's previous flag had suffered a bit of wear and tear, so a replacement was promptly found.