Sons of the American Legion teaching the next generation about patriotism

BY SHAWN DIGITY (twitter@DIGITYnodoubt)

The Sons of the American Legion are going into their second year of a patriotic comic book initiative for elementary school students. On Tuesday, representatives from Harrison Central’s fourth, fifth, and sixth grades were given the first copies of special American comic books paid for by the Sons.

The fourth-grade students received “I Pledge Allegiance.” Every school day across America, the day begins with students reciting the pledge of allegiance. The Sons chose this particular comic book to get the students thinking about freedom. It breaks down the pledge phrase by phrase and explains what each sentence means.

The fifth grade received “Our Countries Flag.” The United States flag is a symbol to the world of the United States’ independence, individual liberty, and unity as a nation. The book gives the student history of the flag and how it came to be called “Old Glory,” why the nation celebrates Flag Day, and proper flag etiquette.

Sixth-grade kids received “Our Country’s Veterans.” It hopes to clarify that freedom is not free, and Americans have freedoms every day because other people have protected them. Veterans who have served in our country’s Armed Forces have given part of their lives to protect citizens’ liberty and safety.

“They’re patriotic in nature and teach lessons,” stated Chuck Yoho, first vice of Cadiz’s Sons of the American Legion. The Sons of the American Legion is made up of sons and grandsons of veterans, and they do numerous initiatives and fundraisers to “support the American Legion, veterans, and veterans programs.”

“It is part of our duties as a veterans support group to teach our younger children about our country, about our veterans, about our flag and the importance of it.” Yoho expounded that it’s very much duty-driven.

The patriotic comic books are sponsored and distributed by the American Legion National Headquarters. Locally they are being distributed by Squadron 34 Cadiz, Ohio of the Sons of the American Legion.

Caption: Harrison News-Herald Photo/SHAWN DIGITY Pictured is (from left to right) Brody Chrisman from the sixth grade, Kyle O’Rourke from the fifth grade, and Louden Smith from the fourth grade. And in the back, going from right to left, is Mr. Madzia (assistant principal) and David Swann, Dan Watson, and Chuck Yoho of Sons of the American Legion.