“You all look amazing,” Principal Rosemary Bowman said tenderly to her Center School students on Friday, June 14, as the school and community members gathered outside beneath the flag pole to celebrate Flag Day. “I have a chill as I gaze out and see each and every one of you. I love the way people are holding the flag so reverently.”
The students standing in front nicely holding their flags, she said to them, “What models you are right here in this row. What a beautiful sight.”
She led the crowd in applauding then, “Because you are just wonderful.”
Bowman has a gentle way of reaching her students, and many of us look forward to the annual Flag Day event simply to hear Bowman speak her nurturing words to the sea of faces that look up to her and know – feel – that she truly cares about them.
This was the first Flag Day that ever fell on the last day of school, Bowman pointed out. Had there been one less snow day the event would not have taken place. “That would’ve been sad,” said Bowman, a huge fan of the American flag.
Bowman read a poem about the flag, and as she began the clock tower struck 9:00 with a loud “dong!”
“Right on cue, isn’t that something? I couldn’t have planned that better!” she said.
Raymond Andrews of the American Legion Florence Eastman 280 led the crowd in the Pledge of Allegiance, followed by our national anthem, the Star-Spangled Banner, and another poem about the flag and a couple songs led by the children.
Bowman then gave the children her special Flag Day message:
“From preschool, kindergarten, first, second, and third grade – all the adults standing here are thinking the same thought: Our country is in good hands with you. You are our future, we celebrate you, we are so glad that you were born. What a wonderful job you did today.”
Bowman initiated another round of applause for the students and asked them to join her in singing her “favorite song,” You’re a Grand Old Flag.
“Look at the flag’s red, white, and blue,” Bowman said to the children. “Every time you see an American flag, please remember that it was created in freedom. The American flag made its first appearance in a battle for human liberty. All of you, take the time to pledge your honor to the American flag, the symbol of our country.
“Today each one of you are leaders, and from this day forward you will be the person that brings crowds together in honor of the flag. Today we pass that baton to you as leaders of our country,” she continued.
“So, as we celebrate this day, keep June 14 in your heart forever. Not everyone in the world has been given the gift you’ve been given. Think about how fortunate you are, and in your lifetime be that beacon of light, be the symbol of love, and remember that many generations of people have given up their lives, their families have made huge sacrifices for you to experience the freedoms that you have today.”
She congratulated the second-graders as they look forward to advancing to third grade next year, and reassured the outgoing third-graders that she would be there at the start of the first day of school in September to greet them at the door at Old Hammondtown.
“Mattapoisett is a glorious place to live,” said Bowman. “We are very fortunate. Happy Flag Day, happy summer, thank you all very much for being here today.”
She encouraged further applause for the Florence Eastman Post 280 members present, saying, “Please join me in another round of applause for the wonderful human beings of the Florence Eastman Post for being here.”
And, similarly, we applaud the wonderful human being Rosemary Bowman, simply for being here.
By Jean Perry
Dear Jean,
Thank you so much for writing this very special story
about the Flag Day celebration at Center School!
The kind words that you have written are deeply appreciated.
Thank you so much!
Sincerely,
Rosemary Bowman