MANVILLE: Mark Flag Day by packing for troops

To the editor:
What is the meaning of the flag of the United States?
    There can never be a definitive answer to that question. There are some people in this world who see it as a symbol of Imperialism; others may see it as a destiny of the people.
    Perhaps Woodrow Wilson summed it up best when he said: “This flag, which we honor and under which we serve, is the emblem of our unity, our power, our thought and shape of this nation. It has no other character than that which we give it from generation to generation. The choice is ours.”
    My family arrived in the United States of America in 1663 and settled in Franklin Township in 1713. From generation to generation, we choose to honor our country’s flag, we choose to celebrate the anniversary of its birth and we choose to remember the achievements attained beneath its folds.
    From birth until now, our flag exemplifies a rich history, soaring high above public events as a symbol of peace, democracy and greatness. For these principles, men and women have died on many hard-fought battlefields, both at home and abroad. To them and for us, our flag has been an ensign of freedom, liberty and opportunity.
    Join the Suydam Family, the Suydam Insurance Agency and the Franklin Township Chamber of Commerce as we unite with Operation Jersey Cares to celebrate and honor Flag Day on Saturday, June 9, at 1743 Route 27, Somerset, at 11 a,m. Our Flag Day celebration will also serve as a drive to support our troops deployed overseas.
    Some of the most frequently requested items by our servicemen and women include: canned foods, packaged snacks (Slim Jim, trail mix, etc.) and basic toiletries — from shaving cream to a bar of soap. A list of items requested by troops is at www.suydam.net or www.operationjerseycared.org.
    May Flag Day bring to each of us a sense of loyalty to our country and enable us to be better patriots and truer citizens.
    May it always wave in the land of the free and the home of the brave!
    Ryck Suydam
Franklin Township