Second grader writes letter asking for flag donation
Grady Alan, second grader at Ridgewood Elementary, wrote a letter to Annin Flagmakers Co. asking for a donation of a new flag to the school. The day before Christmas break, Alan helped raise the new flag on school property.
WEST LAFAYETTE – Students at Ridgewood Elementary have been exhibiting kindness to their fellow peers and staff members as part of the district’s kindness initiative. For their positive behavior, students receive kindness tickets. But one student at Ridgewood has taken kindness to a whole new level outside of the classroom.
Grady Alan, a second grader at the school, recently wrote a letter to Annin Flagmakers Co. asking if they would donate a new American flag to the school. Alan had noticed the school’s flag was getting torn and worn out.
“The flag was torn and getting caught on the tree,” said Alan.
Alan has been in Cub Scouts for a little over a year and has been learning about properly retiring the flag and the steps needed to do so in a respectful manner.
“It makes me feel happy,” said the 8-year-old about being able to make a difference at his school. “The flag stands for our country,” he added.
On Tuesday, Dec. 18, Dave Rogers from Annin Flagmakers Co. came to the school with a new flag after reading Alan’s letter.
“I received the letter on Monday or Tuesday and I just thought it was great that the teacher was showing the kids things they could do to help others,” said Rogers. “He sent the letter with a picture of the tattered flag attached and I took the flag down there to the school and they called him to the office and I got to meet the young man. I just thought it was something nice to do especially before the Christmas holiday.”
Alan’s letter was a complete surprise to the school.
“I had no idea he had done it until Mr. Rogers came,” said Dawn Ward, Alan’s teacher. “For me, to see Annin acknowledging this one student who wrote a letter, they’re showing the school that one person can make a difference. I think kids get dismissed a lot by adults and we don’t always listen to them the way they would like us to. Mr. Rogers spoke volumes to all of our students.”
In addition to the visit from Rogers, Alan also received a personal letter from Santa saying that he had heard about Alan’s good deed and wanted to commend him on his act of kindness.
“I am so proud of Grady because when you take everything he’s been taught in school and in Cub Scouts, and he puts that together and acts on it, that’s when real learning takes place,” said Ward. “Grady did this without expecting anything for Grady. It was all for somebody else, and for a second grader to connect all the dots, it’s amazing. I had goosebumps. You can make a difference and do something without asking for something in return.”
On Friday, Dec. 21, Alan, along with the help of principal Mrs. Cabot and Ward, removed the old flag from the pole and replaced it with the new flag from Annin.
“He took it all on his own,” said Cabot. “Nobody asked him to do this. He noticed a need for a new flag and he did it.”
Superintendent Mike Masloski was also on hand to see Alan raise the new school flag, who said, “I’m so proud of our school for giving him the skills to take initiative to make a difference in the community.”
Category: Education
