Veteran congressman’s office has provided them for 36 years
It is one task the 535 members of Congress perform, providing the flags upon request to municipalities, parks, service organizations, veterans and the general public.
“We’ve had a continual steady request in our office, whether they be for patrol groups, churches, organizations or to honor someone in a family or the community,” Visclosky, D-Gary, said as he reflected on what will be his last Flag Day in office. Visclosky said he has not retired, but has chosen not to run for reelection. He has been serving the 1st Congressional District since 1985.
“You can just tell by the steady nature of those requests the importance the flag has for the citizens in Northwest Indiana,” Visclosky said in a recent phone interview.
Flag requests temporarily have been put on hold due to precautions surrounding the novel coronavirus, COVID-10. Visclosky advised anyone interested keep on eye on the 1st Congressional District website for when those restrictions are lifted.
His office in recent years has been filling about 150 flag requests annually. Some of the flags provided have been flown over the Capitol. Often those flags are requested by veterans or their families. He said it is hard to calculate just how many flags have been provided to constituents over his 36 years in office. Each of the 535 congressional offices offer the same service.
Visclosky said he enjoys the opportunity to be able to provide flags for constituents.
“It is just an opportunity to be a service to someone, for that moment, for that family,” Visclosky said.
The flag itself has changed many times over the years, adding states as our nation grew. The most recent changes were in 1959 when the 49th and 50th stars were added for Alaska and Hawaii, respectively, according to the Smithsonian Institution. The star for the Hoosier state came in 1816 when the nation grew to 20 states. It was the second round of changes to the original 13-star flag.
“It has always represented an ideal for our country. We have not yet obtained that ideal, but we strive for that,” Visclosky said.
Some of the requests for flags are made for veterans at the time they receive medals they should have been awarded for their time in service.
The recipients may be different, but in each case the flag means something to the individual or group who receives it.
“It is unique in each request,” he said.
He lauded Cedar Lake for its annual Flag Day parade. Visclosky often attends the event. The parade, like so many other annual traditions, has been canceled this year due to impact of the pandemic. American Legion Post 261 will go forward with its U.S. Flag retirement ceremony at the post at 4 p.m. Sunday.
Diane Jostes, executive director of the Cedar Lake Chamber of Commerce, said the chamber has been hosting the parade for at least 30 years. This will be the first year since its inception the parade has been canceled.
“We all felt bad this year we weren’t going to do it,” Jostes said, adding it has always been an event that brings people together and gets them outside to enjoy the weather and honor the flag. Children who once attended the parade now bring their children. In recent years
Gary Seng, commander of American Legion Riders Post 261 in Cedar Lake said this year’s flag retirement ceremony is going forward but will be a low-key event due to pandemic. The post officers perform the official retirement ceremony and Taps is performed by bugle before the flags collected are property disposed of by burning.
Seng said the post has hundreds of flags that will be disposed of during the ceremony. People have been dropping the flags off at the post since the ceremony was posted on its marquee.
“It means a lot to me to do it correctly,” Seng, a Vietnam War U.S. Army veteran, said.
“I was born in America. I was raised to believe in America, and I do,” Seng said. The U.S. flag holds a special place in his heart. “I just consider it my freedom.”
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