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More than 150 American flags were retired Friday during a Flag Day ceremony at the Delaware County Veterans Memorial Association in Newtown Square.
“Please remember what Flag Day is all about,” Ralph Galati, vice president of the Delaware County Veterans Memorial Association board said. “It’s our national symbol and the main principle that it represents, which is freedom … . To those who have fought for it, freedom has a flavor that the protected will never know.”
Hosted by the association and Comcast, the event also saw state Sens. John Kane, D-9, of Birmingham, and Tim Kearney, D-26, of Swarthmore, honored with the 2025 President’s Award and the names of the 2025 Freedom Medal Honorees released.
Joseph Daly, president of the memorial board, said the senators acquired grant funding to help replace 3,000 bricks at the memorial, as the engraving on them started to fade.
“As a son of a veteran and someone who chose my Catholic confirmation name in honor of a fallen soldier, accepting the President’s Award today holds deep personal significance,” Kane said. “It is both humbling and inspiring to continue serving our veterans through legislative advocacy, ensuring their needs and rights remain at the forefront of our priorities. Our freedom stands as a testament to their sacrifices, and I remain committed to being their voice in Harrisburg.”
“As state senators, we often have very difficult decisions to make,” Kearney said. “A lot of things aren’t easy but I can tell you what is easy: What is easy is to support this monument. It’s important for all the people who come here.”
The 2025 Freedom Medal Honorees were also announced during the ceremony and include: Staff Sgt. James R. Reese, a Marine Corps veteran; Army Lt. Col. Michael Rounds; retired Air Force Master Sgt. Tanya M. Harris, who also serves as veterans service officer and benefits coordinator for Delaware County; Cpl. Andrew Maenner, a Marine Corps veteran; Cpl. Tiendat Vu, also a Marine Corps veteran; and retired Army 1st Lt. Robert McMahon, who also is the mayor of Media.
The 11th annual Freedom Medal Awards dinner will be held Thursday, Nov. 13 at the Springfield Country Club.
Leonard Altieri, chair of the Newtown Township board of supervisors, expressed pride for the memorial being in Newtown.
“This memorial in the jewel in the crown of Delaware County, Newtown Township, is far more than just granite and steel,” he said. “It is a sacred space, a place of reflection, education and remembrance. It stands as a lasting tribute to the men and women of Delaware County who have served, fought and sacrificed so that we can live in freedom from the Revolutionary War to today’s modern conflicts. This site honors every generation of American hero.”
Altieri spoke of how the memorial anchors American values as a community.
“Its presence is a powerful reminder to all of us — residents, visitors, young people alike — that freedom is not free,” he said. “It is preserved through courage, dedication and the unwavering commitment of our armed forces.”
The supervisor also spoke of the significance of Flag Day, celebrated on June 14.
“June 14, 1777, the Continental Congress adopted the Stars and Stripes as our official flag,” Altieri said. “It has flown through war and peace, through division and unity. It symbolizes hope, resilience and the spirit of people who believe in liberty and justice for all.”
At the memorial, he said it is apparent how connected the flag and America’s veterans are as he offered gratitude to the veterans.
“Your service has shaped this nation and safeguarded the freedoms we so often take for granted,” Altieri said. “This memorial stands for you. It stands because of you.”
Delaware County Council Kevin Madden described the memorial as one of the most powerful landmarks in the region that serves as a living tribute to service and sacrifice while taking a moment to reflect on the day.
“The American flag is more than cloth and thread, more than a symbol of the nation,” he said. “It is a shared identity. It is something we rally around in moments of celebration and crisis, something we teach our children to respect and something that reflects who we are, united not by background, but by belief in the ideals that it stands for.”
Madden noted how the flag is a unifying force.
“At a time when the divisions in our country can feel quite deep, the flag reminds us of our long and enduring tradition of shared ideas: liberty, justice, equality, democracy,” he said. “Even as we debate how best to live up to those ideals at the center of the American experiment, the flag stands for the belief that unity is still possible.”
Through Operation Old Glory, Comcast has collected old and damaged American flags and replaced them for free, regardless of whether the owners are Comcast customers. Started eight years ago, the program has since gathered 1,500 flags across the country.
“We retire these flags with honor and dignity because they have served us all well,” Sean Casey, director of military affairs at Comcast, said ahead of the ceremonial disposal of numerous flags.
