W-B armory unveils its Flag Day gift

WILKES-BARRE – The 109th Field Artillery Armory was presented with a new American flag Saturday morning on the 59th anniversary of Flag Day.

109th Field Artillery soldiers salute during a flag dedication ceremony on Saturday for the new garrison flag, background, that replaces a flag that was 20 years old.

U. S. Congressman Paul Kanjorski, D-Nanticoke, presented a garrison flag - measuring 38 feet by 20 feet and weighing an estimated 60 pounds – to armory officials on a day when many Americans fly Old Glory.

Before a flag can be presented, certain requirements must be met. One of those states that the flag must fly over the nation’s Capitol. The size of this flag made that task difficult. So the congressman received assistance from the Chairman of the House Bob Brady (D-Pa.), who approved the flag be flown over the Capitol in a plane to satisfy the requirements, Kanjorski said.

He reminded the soldiers that the American flag is the most known symbol in the world.

“That flag has never flown over soil that wasn’t free. In the 220 years since the creation of the Constitution of the United States, that flag has flown over a free people and free land. We are the protectors of freedom not just for America, but all over the world,” Kanjorski said.

This new flag hanging in the northwest section of the armory replaces a 20-year-old flag that was originally hung to honor former U.S. Secretary of Defense Frank Carlucci during his visit to the site in 1988, Pennsylvania National Guardsman Lt. Col. Kevin Miller said. Carlucci served as secretary in former President Ronald Reagan’s cabinet.

“You see it is more than just a piece of fabric. It is the reason we put the uniform on. It is a symbol for all we stand for. That flag will be a symbol for us here in the Wyoming Valley to remember good triumphs over evil, truth and justice prevails, oppression never stands, we have a right to live in freedom,” Miller said as he addressed the audience and soldiers during the 19-minute ceremony.

Armory Commander Capt. Robert Perino gave a historical overview of the American flag, including pointing out that the First Continental Congress passed the first Flag Act in 1777, which adopted the design of a national flag. Perino also provided a description of the flag and meaning behind the symbols and colors.

The flag has 13 horizontal stripes and 50 white stars on a blue background. The stripes represent the 13 original colonies and the stars represent the 50 states. The red represents hardiness and valor. The blue represents vigilance, perseverance and justice. The white represents purity and innocence.

“In the 220 years since the creation of the Constitution of the United States, that flag has flown over a free people and free land.”

U.S. Rep. Paul Kanjorski
D-Nanticoke