ROCHELLE — American Legion Commander Steve Korth and Gary Tarvestad presented a plaque for winning this year’s American Legion ‘What the American Flag Means to Me’ essay contest from among 60 high school and middle school entries.
A senior, he is the son of Todd and Teresa Haggestad and grandson of the late Hunter Daniel Downey, his inspiration.
In December Hunter earned an appointment to the United States Air Force Academy.
The following is Haggestad’s winning entry.

What the American Flag Means to Me

By Hunter Haggestad, RTHS 2017

The American flag is the symbol of our great country--The United States of America. It represents the freedoms that all United States citizens enjoy. It represents the ideal that no matter your birth, if you are an American citizen, you will enjoy the same possibilities and opportunities as everyone else. It represents the oldest, longest-lasting, and most successful democratic experiment in the history of man, and the men and women who gave everything and sacrificed all to preserve it. Personally, however, the American flag means more to me. Whenever I see the American flag, I see my grandfather.
Coming out of high school, my grandfather decided to enlist in the Army. His service included a tour in Vietnam. While he was in Vietnam, my grandfather was exposed to Agent Orange. The results of this became evident later in his life as he was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease. He eventually lost his ability to walk and perform everyday functions such as eating unassisted.
When I see the American flag, I am reminded of the memories I made with my grandfather. Some of the best memories of my life were made on a camping trip with him in Michigan. During this trip, my grandfather taught me about nature and the importance of preserving it. Towards the end of his life my grandfather could no longer participate in all of the activities that he loved to do, but I tried to include him in as many things as possible. I highly enjoyed playing chess and going on walks with him.
Despite everything he had been through, I never heard my grandfather complain. This great man lost almost everything that he had previously loved to do, including basic freedoms and human rights like walking, but his disabilities never defined him. His attitude taught me to be more thankful and appreciative of what I have and where I am at in life. My grandfather also had no regrets. He was proud that he was able to serve his country, despite the unforeseeable impacts that it had on his life.

It is because of the influence of my grandfather that I developed the want to serve my country. While there are many ways in which you can serve your country, I believe that serving in the military is the best route for me. This dream of serving my country was further realized when I was recently offered an appointment to the United States Air Force Academy, which I accepted immediately. Never before have I felt so close to my country, and never before have I felt so close to my grandfather since his passing. It is a great honor to have the opportunity to serve our country, which I truly believe is the best country in the world. I am extremely proud to be joining the likes of the great men and women who have served our country before me, including my grandfather. I am extremely excited to be able to help preserve the ideals that our flag stands for.