GAIL WHITE Boardman resident wants Flag Day to be national holiday

"Until I was 14 or 15, I thought Flag Day was a national holiday," Joe Nazarini of Boardman exclaims. "It wasn't until I got out into the world that I found out not everyone celebrated Flag Day."
As a child, Joe remembers his father closing his grocery store in Smoky Hollow every Flag Day to commemorate the observance.
"A lot of people didn't have refrigerators back then," Joe recalls. "So, Dad would open from 9 to 11 a.m. on Flag Day so they could buy their meat."
"I remember parades going across the South Avenue bridge on Flag Day," Joe recalls. It has been decades since Flag Day has been celebrated with a parade.
It is this lack of interest and Joe's strong patriotism toward the Stars and Stripes that have prompted him to petition the federal government to upgrade Flag Day from a national day of observance to a national holiday.
"Flag Day connects the birthday of America (Fourth of July) with those who have served to protect our freedom (Memorial Day)," Joe said. "We have a Christmas season. We should have a patriotic season."
Joe believes the flag represents the unity of the United States. Flag Day celebrates every United States citizen.
"It celebrates our unity," he says. "We are all little flags walking around, ambassadors."
Like a little America
Growing up in Smoky Hollow, Joe remembers people of all nationalities in his neighborhood.
"They all got along," he recalls. "It was amazing how well they all got along. They were from all over the world, but they learned how to be neighbors. They even learned each other's languages."
The impact of the unity in his neighborhood has never left Joe. Today, however, he is disappointed by the lack of neighborly love.
"We get in our cars and give 'the wave,'" he says with a chuckle, masking his deep sadness.
Joe envisions a national holiday where neighborhoods come together to celebrate the unity of our country.
"Someone buys the hot dogs. Someone buys the buns. Someone bakes a cake," Joe says, sharing his simple vision.
Two years ago, this patriot determined to fight for his dream of celebrating American unity.
"Susan B. Anthony wanted to vote. She was one person and she stood up," Joe says with passion. "Sometimes you have to stand up."
As Joe rose to take his stand, he shared his vision with fellow Americans and asked them to sign a petition.
"People want this," Joe discovered. "I am humbled by the people's support."
Joe presented his petition to Congress, and his efforts resulted in the creation of HB2242.
Though he is pleased with the creation of the House Bill, Joe has concerns.
"Things have a tendency to lay around until people make a lot of noise," Joe understands.
"I am looking for some noisemakers."
Celebration
This Flag Day, Joe will be making some noise of his own in his neighborhood. He will be hosting an Old Fashioned Flag Day Celebration on his front lawn.
"There will be food, fun and free-dom," Joe chuckles at his pun on words, indicating the event is free.
Along with the festivities, there will be a Flag Day ceremony involving Boy Scout Troop 60 of Boardman.
"With everything happening in the world today," Joe says somberly, "someday we might just have to be more together than we are right now."
He feels a national holiday celebrating our unity will bring neighborhoods and communities together -- beyond "the wave."
"We should celebrate the good stuff about us," Joe said, beaming. "We are a great people. The world knows it. We should celebrate it."
The public is invited to attend his celebration at 235 Oakley Ave., Boardman, from 10 a.m. to noon Saturday. Any questions, call (330) 629-8029.
gwhite@vindy.com