On Monday, June 14, communities across the United States celebrated Flag Day.
Los Alamitos also joined to celebrate our flag, which honors those who have fought to protect it and as a reminder of the sacrifice of the nation’s founders and military protectors.
The icon was first celebrated in 1877. Flag Day 2010 was also the 235th birthday of the United States Army.
As the ultimate icon of America’s storied history, the Stars and Stripes is said to represent the best of the nation.
The Los Alamitos celebration was the vision of local resident Nancy Karmelich.
Karmelich has been hard at work to achieve a vision she had years ago, when she wanted to find a way to show appreciation to the men and women of the United States Armed Forces.
A few months ago, after her youngest daughter started school, Karmelich was ready to move forward with her program.
She had only a vision—that was to find a way to honor the military that train and work at the Joint Forces Training Base in Los Alamitos.
“It makes me feel so honored to share our city and be able to interact on a daily basis with our military personnel in our small town and surrounding cities,” she said. “It makes me proud to see military vehicles and aircraft flying over and on our streets, I feel safe and proud. It is my hope that the military see these banners and it shows them just how much our community loves and appreciates them,” Karmelich said.
She went to work creating a non-profit program “Banners of Honor.”
The program’s mission is to express the community’s heartfelt appreciation for the freedoms we so enjoy here and abroad. Thirty-three banners of honor were unveiled at Laurel Park and more to come soon.
Los Alamitos City Council voted unanimously in support of Karmelich’s program. “It is an extreme honor to be present at this momentous occasion. What a great experience for any veteran or military personnel to see the flags coming into and out of Los Alamitos, these men and women will always know that the community of Los Alamitos has them in their hearts,” Mayor Marilyn Poe said.
“It is with heartfelt recognition and strongest appreciation that I thank Nancy, the city of Los Alamitos, and the sponsors of these banners from the bottom of my heart and this program is a gesture those serving the country will be grateful for,” said Brig. Gen. Keith Jones of the JFTB.
“It’s simply an extraordinary idea,” he said. “It is going to mean so much for our military members … to see the heartfelt response of the community.”
The Banners of Honor Committee is still looking to fund the remaining banners that will make up phase two of the project.
The cost is $375 for a banner on Katella Avenue or $500 for a limited edition banner that will hang in the base. Visit bannersofhonor.com for further information.
Laura Herzog is a civilian spokesperson for the Joint Forces Training Base. If you have a comment or response to this story, write us at dennis@sunnews.org or go directly online to www.sunnews.org. Find the story and leave your comment there.
