Flying the flag at St. Joseph School

By Lawrence Manetti, St. Joseph School Principal

As you use the front entrance of St. Joseph Church, at the corner of 57^th Street and Father Fuerst Drive (72^nd Court), you will see 50 American flags flying on the front lawn.

Placed there shortly after noon today by St. Joseph School fifth graders, the flags are an annual Labor Day reminder for all of us to remember, honor and celebrate the struggles, sacrifices and achievements of America’s working men and women.

This year, the flags will serve a dual purpose, as they will remain in place for the 10^th anniversary commemoration of the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001.

In addition to thanking our fifth graders and their teacher, Mrs. Nieminski, for their role in this modest but important display, I want to express my gratitude to longtime St. Joseph parishioner and St. Joseph School alumni mother Mrs. Margaret “Peggy” Feltz---who along with her husband, the late Donald W. Feltz Sr.---started this tradition several years ago. Mrs. Feltz still leads the placing of the flags every Memorial Day and Labor Day. In fact, the photos I have posted here were taken by her today.

Further, I want to thank Mr. Joe Niego and everyone at Niego Real Estate, 6625 West Archer Avenue, for their ongoing kindness and generosity in donating the flags.

May the flags continue to serve as a reminder to us all that freedom is not free, and liberty must never be taken for granted.

Have a great weekend…