By Kimberly Thomas
News Editor
On Veteran’s Day, friends and residents of Pleasant Green Villa gathered around in their courtyard to retire their old American flag and raise their new one. Residents of the Pleasant Green expressed how their old flag acted as a symbol for them. Roy Davis, Treasury Secretary for the Disability Outreach Committee (DOC) said, “The flag looks like it has been in a battle.” Davis continued on to say that the flag’s war-torn qualities made it relatable to residents of Pleasant Green.
Pleasant Green is home to the DOC a non-profit organization with a focus in helping people with disabilities and it was the DOC who was able to gather support and funds for a new flag. Mark Miller, Chairman of the DOC, said that Pleasant Green chose to raise the flag on Veteran’s Day because many residents of Pleasant Green are Veterans. Lowell Taylor, a Vice Chairman for the DOC, said it was important to have a flag and pole in the first place because so many residents have served our country. All felt that raising the new flag on Veteran’s Day was significant because it is so symbolic to residents, especially those who are veterans.
The flag raising ceremony began with a few words from Mark Miller. Miller also read a poem by Edgar A. Guest, titled “Duty to Our Flag.” The poem echoed patriotism for the flag and stressed the importance of always showing respect and love for flag and country. After this the new flag was raised by Taylor and Davis. Mallory Douge then sang the national anthem which brought many to tears. Everyone continued to salute the flag as the Pledge of Allegiance was spoken.
Miller says that now that the flag has been retired they would like to frame it and display it in the clubhouse so that the flag can continue to act as a symbol to the residents of Pleasant Green. Pleasant Green friends and residents continue with faith despite the vandalism that precipitated the need to retire their old flag. A line from “Duty to Our Flag” reads, “Less boast and brag about the flag, more faith in what it means,” this is faith that friends and residents of Pleasant Green Villa have in abundance.
The DOC was started in 2005 originally to help just one lady in an electric wheel chair obtain transportation. It was DOC that found someone to donate the new flag. Lowell Taylor was the one with the idea for the DOC and it was Mark Miller, whom Taylor says is a “doer”, who got the proverbial ball rolling on the DOC. The DOC’s is now working on organizing a Sub-for-Santa for children with disabilities. If you would like to help them please visit their website: www.doconthemove.org.
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