Donated POW/MIA Flag Donated To Memorial Early Childhood Center By Veterans Council

November 13, 2014

………………………………A special ceremony was conducted by the Middleboro Veterans’ Council Honor Guard

on Tuesday, November 11, 2014 to raise a POW/MIA flag at the Memorial Early Childhood Center.

The flag was donated to the school by the Council as part of Veterans Day observances.

Middlboro's Vterans Council is comprised of the local American Legion, VFW, DAV and the Oak

Point Veterans Association

……… The ceremony, organized by kindergarten teacher Pat Rooney, had been re-scheduled from the

prior week due to rainy weather. Mr. Rooney spoke to the children about the history and

significance of the Prisoner Of War/ Missing In Action flag.

………..More than 250 school children attended the event along with many teachers, parents and

school administrators, including School Superintendent Roseli Weiss, Principal Michael Brault

and School Committee member Maureen Franco.

……….As part of the program, the Veterans’ Council provided two buglers Paul Kreitzberg and

Wayne Packard to sound “Call to the Colors,” during the raising of the American and Pow/Mia

flags.

……....Mr. Rooney then spoke to the students about the Veterans Day, which was first called

Armistice Day, which was observed after World War1 on November 11, 1918. He then told of the

history of the school building, which had originally been called the Memorial High

School. “Now, it is called the Memorial Early Childhood Center,” he said.

…………He then told the children, “We are here this morning to raise the POW/MIA flag which calls

to mind those Americans who have sacrificed their freedom to preserve liberty for all of us.

We have learned that Veterans Day is a day to thank and honor those who served in the military-

not just those who died, which is the focus of Memorial Day.”

……….The students were then told about the significance of the POW and MIA letters on the flag.

He pointed out the words at the bottom of the flag: YOU ARE NOT FORGOTTEN. He then explained

that when we fly this flag everyday, we are showing that we have not forgotten this group of

soldiers.

………All participants recited the Pledge of Allegiance. Later, the students sang “My Country Tis

of Thee” while a teacher Mr. Sweeney sang “God Bless America.

......The Middleboro Gazette printed a three photo collage of the ceremony on page two of its November 20, 2014 publication. ..(Photos/Compilation by Bob Lessard Historian 2014.)