Honoring heroes is a time-honored tradition that never goes out of style. In America, our heroes come from all walks of life, and nowhere is that more evident than in the Flags for Heroes event led by the Daytona Beach West Rotary Club.
The 200 flags streaming along the Riverfront Esplanade on the Intracoastal Waterway in Daytona Beach showcase 200 stories about 200 heroes at the Veterans Memorial location. Flags for Heroes are on display every year during the week of July 4th with this year being even more meaningful as we celebrate America’s 250th anniversary.
“We’ve had people nominate people from the French underground,” said Laura McGuinness-Rutledge, a member of the Daytona Beach West Rotary Club. “We’ve had moms, dads, teachers, grandparents nominated. It’s that one person who made a difference and encouraged you to have confidence – who told you, ‘You are worth it. You can do it.’ That’s a hero.”
Each flag has a tag explaining why they were nominated as someone’s hero. If they’re still alive, the Rotary Club arranges for them to get their tag. In the end, the funds collected from the nominees to honor their hero go directly to non-profits the local chapter has selected as beneficiaries.
“This year, we are splitting our donations 50/50,” said Laura. “In previous years we’ve given to Family Renew, a local non-profit that provides little cottages for families who are experiencing homelessness to live in once they are accepted into the program. The residents live a sober lifestyle, children are able to go to school, and parents must search for employment. They also receive financial training in basics like budgeting and balancing a checkbook. Once they are ready to move into their own homes or apartments, the supplies that Family Renews has provided them are packed up for the family to set up their new home. It’s a very successful program with a 90% success rate.”
The other 50% of donations will go to Umuryango Children's Network and the students at the Bright Future Academy, a charity founded by Yohani Kayinamura, a member of the Daytona Beach West Rotary Club and survivor of the Rwanda genocide. Johani, a chemistry professor at Daytona State College, has created an orphanage for the children left behind. Umuryango means family in Rwanda, which is exactly how the Rotary Club members feel about the children in the orphanage. Rotary members, family, and friends spend time over in Rwanda helping out at the school and providing things like computer training, education, food, clothing, and mentorship.
“In the words of Edward Everett Hall,” said Laura, ‘I am only one, but still I am one. I cannot do everything, but I can still do something. And because I can’t do everything, I will not refuse to do something I can do.’ We can each be a hero to somebody – one person can make a difference.”
Patriotism isn't just on battlefields. It's found in classrooms, kitchens, hospitals, neighborhoods, and anywhere we are inspired to believe.