Veteran Robert Alicea must be plum proud of his 13-year-old grandson, Cody.
Cody rode Old Glory into the hearts of patriots and made Veteran’s Day 2010 a Veteran’s Day to crown them all.
Cody had been flying the flag on the back of his bicycle for almost two months to show support for veterans like his grandfather who served their country.
Citing complaints from other students, officials at Denair Middle School told Cody he would no longer be allowed to display the flag--just in time for Veteran’s Day.
As fast as you could say, “Stars and Stripes", a public outcry rang out from from across the fruited plain and the school soon backtracked.
Superintendent Edward Parraz says the school was trying to avoid racial tensions that stemmed from a “little issue” that arose when Hispanic students brought Mexican flags to school on Cinco De Mayo.
“That’s when it all kind of started, and I think it carried through so that when Cody started doing his flag everybody said well why isn’t he getting in trouble?” (
FoxNews.com, Nov. 12, 2010).
Displaying the Stars and Stripes in America is no little issue.
Cody politely complied with school authorities, but put in his personal bid for the flag, asking the school to please reconsider because he believed the decision was wrong.
“I’m supposed to be free in this country and I should be able to fly the flag wherever I want to,” Cody told Fox.
Veterans, like Cody’s grandfather, risked their lives for that freedom.
Cody’s strong beliefs were echoed by parents both inside and outside Denair.
Now, rather than a 13-year-old patriot being robbed of his patriotism, the focus will shift to the students who complained in the first place, and authorities will be talking to their parents.
Perhaps if the American flag was proudly displayed at every school in America, there would be no room for disputes about pride in Old Glory on school property.
Meanwhile, a 13-year-old boy leaves an indelible message for Veterans Day with a message that is immortal: God bless veterans who give us our freedom.
Cody Alicea rides across patriot hearts forever.
Judi McLeod——
Bio and Archives
-- Judi McLeod, Founder, Owner and Editor of Canada Free Press, is an award-winning journalist with more than 30 years’ experience in the print and online media. A former Toronto Sun columnist, she also worked for the Kingston Whig Standard. Her work has appeared throughout the ‘Net, including on Rush Limbaugh and Fox News.
