On Sundays I write about someone who we can praise because he demonstrated courage and stands up for his principles. Today the honoree is Cameron Blasek, a 17-year-old high school senior from St. Leon, Indiana.
From Epoch Bright:
Cameron and his friend had flown their truck-mounted American flags since the summer—flags like those his dad and uncles had flown on their trucks way back when. As fall arrived, his friend had stopped flying his, but Cameron continued.
“Ever since I was little, we’ve always had a flag in my front yard,” Cameron said, adding that old photos and videos of his dad’s and uncles’ flags inspired him. “I’ve had family that’s been in the military. I did it as a respect thing.”
Just before the students got out for spring break Cameron got pulled aside at lunch, and the vice principal and a counselor told jim, “Hey, you got to take the flag down off the back of your truck.” Cameron said, “I didn’t really understand why; they wouldn’t give me a straight reason.
They had told me that it was coming from the principal, and they said, “Well, if you don’t take it down, we’re writing you for insubordination.”
The confrontation stirred a conflict in Cameron’s mind: On one hand, he had stood firmly and asserted his right to fly the flag—going so far as reading the school’s own flag codebook to the vice principal and counselor. On the other hand, he had to graduate; a possible expulsion could really hamstring his career plans.
He knew he was in accordance with the rules, and that the flag was mounted legally according to code.
Cameron’s parents fully supported their son’s choice to drive to school the next day, American flag still flying proudly in the bed.
“Ever since I was little, I was raised and grew up to always stand for what you believe in,” he said, “and don’t back down.”
The imminent call to the principal’s office came, and Cameron marched in and read the codebook aloud to the principal as he had for the vice principal and counselor the previous day.
After a few days the principal of East Central High School, Tom Black, posted online a complete reversal of his position opposing Cameron’s flag. He wrote this:
“After careful consideration and in recognition of the importance of the U.S. flag as a symbol of unity and national identity, I am pleased to inform you that we are allowing the display of the U.S. flag in the East Central High School parking lot.”
Cameron Blasek stood up for what he believed in and was vindicated.
We can all only hope that our sons and grandsons would do the same.
3/31/24