SHARON Former mayor's Flag Day legacy goes on

About 125 people turned out for the 15th annual ceremony on the steps of city hall.
By HAROLD GWIN
VINDICATOR SHARON BUREAU
SHARON, Pa. -- There was a reason the woman with two small children showed up at the city building Friday for Sharon's 15th annual Flag Day ceremony.
The father of Christopher Mueller, 4, and his sister, Hanna, 3, is in the U.S. Navy, currently stationed in New Jersey after returning from duty in Japan in December, said their mother, Tricia Mueller.
Matthew Mueller, a 13-year veteran, couldn't be here, but his wife and children stood up for him at the ceremony on the steps of city hall. They were the only children present.
The couple are raising their children to respect the military as well as police and firefighters who serve their country, said Mrs. Mueller, the daughter of Sharon Councilman George Gulla.
The importance of military service is part of their environment, she said, noting the children get to go to a discount store frequently to pick up some small items to send to people in the military stationed overseas.
Turnout
About 125 people, many of them service veterans, showed up for this year's ceremony, which was followed by a luncheon in the lobby.
Former Mayor Robert T. Price started the ceremony, which drew only a handful of people its first year. It has grown steadily since.
Mayor David O. Ryan, elected last fall, decided to continue the ceremony and invited Price back to speak.
Price said he was glad to see it continuing and thanked people for coming.
"I just think it's a good tradition," said Ryan, a veteran of the U.S. Army and former city police chief.
"It's needed to show there's a little patriotism left in the world, especially in Sharon," he said.
Mercer County Commissioner Kenneth Seamans, also a veteran, addressed the crowd, urging people not to forget the sacrifice made by those in the military as well as police officers and firefighters.
There were a lot of flags flying from cars and buildings right after the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks on this country but the number has dropped sharply in recent months, Seamans said.
"We said we'd never forget," he said, adding that he fears some people already have.