Wednesday, June 12, 2002
Youngstown residents plan to show off their colors and American pride Friday.
By ROGER G. SMITH
CITY HALL REPORTER
YOUNGSTOWN -- Maraie Brooks started hanging an American flag outside her West Judson Avenue home last July 4.
She was moved to start the practice when she noticed just one lonely flag hanging in her neighborhood for that holiday. Brooks thought she should do her part.
Post-Sept. 11, she wants everybody to do their part.
Brooks, leader of the Judson Citizens Watch, has been coaxing residents and businesses across the city the past few months to show off their colors Friday -- Flag Day.
A mass display of red, white and blue is a needed and undeniable show of unity, she said.
"I wanted something we could all rally around," Brooks said.
She is asking every resident or business to fly a flag or erect any other colorful display Friday to show they care.
For example, one woman she knows will put up red, white and blue curtains. Brooks is creating a papier-m & acirc;ch & eacute; display between the pillars on her porch. Red, white and blue flowers, stones or Christmas lights are among other examples.
"It's not about the size of the flag; it's about unity," Brooks said.
A Flag Day display is more than just patriotic appreciation, Brooks said. It can create a tie that binds.
A common thread
Race, politics and plenty of other issues divide people here, she said. Regardless, there is one common thread that demonstrated itself vividly in the aftermath of the terrorist attacks.
"We are just one thing: Americans," Brooks said.
Patriotism is the perfect rallying point for Youngstown, she said, which is why she undertook the effort.
"I wanted something nobody can complain about. If I hear one more person complaining and not doing anything about it. ... We can all do something," Brooks said.
"I just want to create a positive label for one day for the city. If we can do that, look at what we can do in this city. Think of what we could do here."
Bill Watterson, the block watch vice president, has another view on the Flag Day crusade.
His wife is a retired, disabled, 20-year Navy veteran. He spent eight years in the Navy, too, which is where the couple met.
They willingly sacrificed a stable family life to serve the country, while others have given much more, Watterson said. A street lined with flying flags is a symbol of all those who sacrificed for freedom, he said.
"That flag represents the blood of people," Watterson said. "That puts a whole lot more meaning to it."
Living overseas and seeing the limited freedoms in other countries demonstrates how much Americans have to enjoy, he said.
"You realized what you really do have. The flag represents all that," Watterson said.
Support from council
City council is supporting the Flag Day effort, and the Judson block watch is reaching out to other similar organizations to get behind Brooks' push.
The block watch is having a contest with a few prizes for the most creative display of the colors. Prizes will be items that residents can use to improve their homes.
The block watch is also distributing miniflags to homes on Judson. Every home will have a flag, even the vacant ones.
rgsmith@vindy.com