Forestville American Legion donates POW flag to school
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FORESTVILLE -- The American flag at the front of Forestville Middle/High School's stage will soon have company.
Two members of the Forestville American Legion Auxiliary recently presented the Forestville Central School District with a flag and pole to hang a Prisoners of War/Missing in Action flag alongside the American flag in the school's auditorium. American Legion Post 953 Commander Tom Halicki and member Dick Yeager gave their presentation at a recent Forestville Board of Education meeting.
Yeager was inspired to take action when he attended his granddaughter's dance recital in the Forestville Middle/High School auditorium and noticed the American flag at the front right corner of the stage.
"I thought it would be nice to have an MIA/POW flag standing next to the American flag, because that flag wouldn't be standing there if it wasn't for the MIA/POW," Yeager said.
At a meeting of the American Legion 953 members, the group came to the decision to offer to donate a flag to honor the prisoners of war and those missing in action, along with a flag pole and a stand to properly display the flag.
The American Legion Post 953, named in honor of J. Carter Knapp, is set to celebrate 100 years in the Forestville community later this year on Nov. 30.
The Legion once stood on the same hill that the Forestville Middle/High School calls home before it moved to its current location on Cedar Street.
Regarding membership, Yeager said, "like everything else (it) is dwindling." The group, which used to feature more than 100 members, is now down to fewer than 50 members. Yeager said, however, the group is "very active."
Yeager is one of the older members of the group, reacting sheepishly as Halicki revealed his age of 85 -- third oldest among the active members.
"We're all active, and we all thought we should present the school district and the Board of Education a POW/MIA flag, a staff and a stand," Yeager said.
Yeager voiced his desire to return to the school for an official dedication of the flag.
"We'd love to have you back for a dedication ceremony," Forestville Superintendent Dr. John O'Connor responded.