thedrifter
06-10-05, 06:41 AM
Rally 'round the flag
School celebrates gift from soldier in Iraq
By Marshall Allen
Staff Writer
Thursday, June 09, 2005 - ALHAMBRA -- An American flag sent by a soldier in Iraq brought a heartfelt display of patriotism to Marguerita Elementary School on Thursday, as about 1,000 people from the school gathered to honor the military.
1st Sgt. Ron Cabrera, 42, a noncommissioned reserve officer in the Army Reserve National Guard, attended Marguerita, graduated from Alhambra High School then joined the Marines and later the National Guard.
In January, Cabrera's Los Alamitos-based Blackhawk helicopter support unit was deployed to Iraq. Cabrera flew an American flag from the helicopter over Iraq, then donated it to the school. Middle schoolers competed in an essay contest to determine who would be awarded the memento at Thursday's ceremony.
The event took place in front of the red brick K-8 school and spilled over onto the street, which was closed for the occasion. The entire student body, more than 800 children, attended. Teachers, administrators, local dignitaries and even some neighbors stood watching the ceremony, many at times wiping tears from their eyes.
Marie Cabrera of Whittier, the soldier's mother, said after the ceremony that the friends and teachers her son met at Marguerita came at an important time in his life.
In his civilian life, Cabrera is a contract administrator for the federal government. He lives in Cypress with his wife and two children, who were unable to attend the flag ceremony.
The flag was one centerpiece of the event. Another was a speaker phone that seemed to ring on cue after a choir of third-graders led by Toni Bradshaw-Rodriguez, one of Cabrera's former teachers finished a rousing song.
"Hello everybody!' said Cabrera, whose voice from Iraq was amplified through the phone.
The crowd cheered. Cabrera talked to his mother, who told him the whole school was listening.
Cabrera remembered several of his teachers by name, including Bradshaw-Rodriguez, who rushed to the phone and said, "Hi Ronnie!'
"I think the last time we spoke was 1971 maybe?' he said.
"I'm so proud of you we're all so proud of you for what you're doing for our country,' Bradshaw-Rodriguez told him.
After the event, Bradshaw-Rodriguez said she remembered Cabrera very well from when he was in her class.
"He was a good student, a very kind, sweet boy,' she said.
Later in the program, a letter from Cabrera that accompanied the flag was read.
"We ask that you display your flag proudly and keep us in your thoughts until we all return home safely,' Cabrera's letter said. "Let us be grateful for the many freedoms and conveniences we share as Americans.'
A color guard from the American Legion Post 139, Alhambra, raised the flag on the pole in front of the school. It will fly there until the end of the school year, when it will be given to seventh-grader Rebecca Han, who won the essay contest.
Han said she was surprised to win the contest because there were so many entries. In her essay, she said she was "trying to explain how proud I was to be an American.'
Marshall Allen can be reached at (626) 578-6300, Ext. 4461, or by e-mail at marshall.allen@sgvn.com .
Ellie
School celebrates gift from soldier in Iraq
By Marshall Allen
Staff Writer
Thursday, June 09, 2005 - ALHAMBRA -- An American flag sent by a soldier in Iraq brought a heartfelt display of patriotism to Marguerita Elementary School on Thursday, as about 1,000 people from the school gathered to honor the military.
1st Sgt. Ron Cabrera, 42, a noncommissioned reserve officer in the Army Reserve National Guard, attended Marguerita, graduated from Alhambra High School then joined the Marines and later the National Guard.
In January, Cabrera's Los Alamitos-based Blackhawk helicopter support unit was deployed to Iraq. Cabrera flew an American flag from the helicopter over Iraq, then donated it to the school. Middle schoolers competed in an essay contest to determine who would be awarded the memento at Thursday's ceremony.
The event took place in front of the red brick K-8 school and spilled over onto the street, which was closed for the occasion. The entire student body, more than 800 children, attended. Teachers, administrators, local dignitaries and even some neighbors stood watching the ceremony, many at times wiping tears from their eyes.
Marie Cabrera of Whittier, the soldier's mother, said after the ceremony that the friends and teachers her son met at Marguerita came at an important time in his life.
In his civilian life, Cabrera is a contract administrator for the federal government. He lives in Cypress with his wife and two children, who were unable to attend the flag ceremony.
The flag was one centerpiece of the event. Another was a speaker phone that seemed to ring on cue after a choir of third-graders led by Toni Bradshaw-Rodriguez, one of Cabrera's former teachers finished a rousing song.
"Hello everybody!' said Cabrera, whose voice from Iraq was amplified through the phone.
The crowd cheered. Cabrera talked to his mother, who told him the whole school was listening.
Cabrera remembered several of his teachers by name, including Bradshaw-Rodriguez, who rushed to the phone and said, "Hi Ronnie!'
"I think the last time we spoke was 1971 maybe?' he said.
"I'm so proud of you we're all so proud of you for what you're doing for our country,' Bradshaw-Rodriguez told him.
After the event, Bradshaw-Rodriguez said she remembered Cabrera very well from when he was in her class.
"He was a good student, a very kind, sweet boy,' she said.
Later in the program, a letter from Cabrera that accompanied the flag was read.
"We ask that you display your flag proudly and keep us in your thoughts until we all return home safely,' Cabrera's letter said. "Let us be grateful for the many freedoms and conveniences we share as Americans.'
A color guard from the American Legion Post 139, Alhambra, raised the flag on the pole in front of the school. It will fly there until the end of the school year, when it will be given to seventh-grader Rebecca Han, who won the essay contest.
Han said she was surprised to win the contest because there were so many entries. In her essay, she said she was "trying to explain how proud I was to be an American.'
Marshall Allen can be reached at (626) 578-6300, Ext. 4461, or by e-mail at marshall.allen@sgvn.com .
Ellie