Flags for First Graders
Posted by somovillager on November 10, 2009
Harry Tolliver of Laveen teaches history as well as the respect for our national symbol.
Story and photos by Harold Baldwin
Back in September I had the pleasure of following Harry Tolliver as he traveled to seven Laveen area schools to talk about the American flag. A long time Laveen resident and Lions club member, Harry has done this for years under the Lions Flags for First Graders program. And as a former history teacher and school administrator he makes the most of the visits as “teachable moments”.
Harry makes the history of our flag come alive as he greets the students dressed in the full regalia of a revolutionary war era soldier from a tri-cornered hat to a hand sewn shirt covered by a vest-like waist coat (or “weskit” as the English called it). Breeches, knee socks complete uniform and a leather “possibles bag” is slung across his shoulder. All that is missing is a six-foot long flint-lock rifle. Backing him up are helpers that hold two American flags.
His audience is as many as a hundred squirmy, giggly first graders seated on the floor who grow quiet as Harry describes his period garb. Then he turns their attention to the two American flags. One has a circle of thirteen stars that eager voices count in unison as he points to each star. This leads to a bit about the original thirteen states that made up our young country. Then focused on the flags, all stand and recite the Pledge of Allegiance. These kids have it down pat and the sound of a room full of six year-olds reciting the Pledge would make any American swell with pride.
The period clothing, the original flag, and the contemporary one lead to a discussion of life in early America. Kids hear a list of all the modern conveniences missing in 1776 and shake their heads at the thought. This leads to a longer list of chores that burdened their counterparts 233 years ago: Girls toiling in the garden, dipping candles, cooking, and learning to spin and sew; while boys chopped kindling, hauled wood and water and tended the fire on the family hearth.
When asked how a cooking and heating fire was started, first graders suggested lighters and matches. When told those hadn’t been invented yet, one suggests rubbing sticks together. True, Harry said, but time consuming. There was a quicker way. With all eyes on him he reaches into his possibles bag. A flattened steel ring is held up first. Anticipation builds as Harry next holds up a small black stone. Kids nod as he describes the vital process of “laying” a fire. Then they ooh and ah as if watching fireworks when Harry demonstrates striking steel against flint producing a small shower of sparks.
Spending a bit less than one hour at each school, Lion Harry Tolliver blends living history while teaching respect for the American flag as the symbol of our nation. And best of all, at the end of the day, each student went home clutching their very own first grade size American flag.
On The Cover: Principal Steve Preis and First Grade Teacher Amber Murray of Desert Meadows Elementary School assist Lion Harry Tolliver in presenting the story of our American flag.
