A delegation of Emporians was on the floor of the Kansas Senate on Monday to officially present a Braille U.S. flag to the state Capitol.
Jesse Solis presented the flag to Senate President Steve Morris to express pride in Emporia’s status as the first city to celebrate Veterans Day. The 1953 observance, celebrated on what was formerly known as Armistice Day, led President Dwight D. Eisenhower to declare Veterans Day as an official holiday the following year.
Also present for the ceremony were Sen. Jim Barnett, Rep. Peggy Mast, Rep. Don Hill, Mayor Bob Agler, City Manager Matt Zimmerman and many people Solis had asked to attend.
“When we donated this Braille flag to the state Capitol, they were very receptive and very elated and very generous,” Solis said. “I couldn’t say more.”
The presentation was made possible by Barnett. Solis and Barnett want the flag presentation to be seen as a welcome home to returning veterans from Iraq and Afghanistan.
“As state senator, I have the privilege of representing Emporia, Kansas, the founding city of Veterans Day and home of the All Veterans Tribute,” Barnett said on Monday. “This flag has tremendous meaning to the hundreds of thousands of veterans who have returned from battle with vision impairments or total blindness.”
“We need to let the world know that we are the founding city of Veterans Day, and it’s a very important thing,” Solis said. “Especially to honor our veterans. And again, this flag is not just for veterans that are blinded but anybody that’s visually impaired.”