/PG/ Harrison, Ohio (Signal High) —– The American Legion is honouring an Ohio high school student for refusing to remove the American flag from his truck, despite pressure and threats from school administrators.
Cameron Blasek refused to take down the American flag he had raised from the back of his truck when the administration at East Central High School told him to. The school told Blasek that the flag – our flag – could be offensive to other students and that he was not permitted to have it on his truck.
The next day many other students had our flag fashioned the same way, and the school administration was peppered with angry phone calls and press. The administration quickly changed their tune, “After careful consideration and in recognition of the importance of the U.S. Flag as a symbol of unity and national identity, I am pleased to inform you that we are allowing the display of the U.S. flag by students in the East Central High School parking lot.”
Some note the arrogance with which this statement is made and point out that flying the American flag is not something to be allowed or permitted. Veterans gathered on Wednesday to present Blasek with the Red, White and blue award, along with three thousand dollars for his patriotism and courage. Blasek said, “All I ever wanted in the first place was just to fly the American flag on the back of my truck. I didn’t want anything more or less than that.”
School administrators have not reached out to Blasek directly.
“The flag is a symbol of unity in this country,” Blasek said. “I think that’s something that everybody can come together on no matter where you come from, how you look, or who you are. I think that’s something that everybody should be able to unite on.”
U.S. Army veteran Jean Wilson was at Blasek’s ceremony on Wednesday. “The American flag means a lot to myself and my entire family,” Wilson said. “We have many who have served in the military, defending our country for people to have the right to choose, have the right to say what they believe in, just as Cameron did. It’s so important.”
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