Flag Day – A tribute to the red, white and blue

Katim Gossaye, 6th grade, of 156th Street School, recites her winning essay on “What the American Flag Means to Me.” She was among six student winners of the contest to receive honors on Flag Day, June 14 at the Gardena City Hall Complex. Photos by Gary Kohatsu
As part of the 2022 Gardena Flag Day Celebration are three members of the Gardena police Honor Guard.
From left are Andre Carter, Rodney Gonsalves and Sean Dixon. Their duties were to present colors and raise the American Flag at the start of the ceremony. Dixon also performed “Reveille.” Students essay winners were Kendal Anderson and Katim Gossaye, 6th graders, of 156th Street School; Saul Sanchez, 6th, of Avalon Gardens School; Demilade Aruwajoye, 5th, of 156th Street School; Landen Hulbert, 4th, of 156th Street; and Brooklyn Grayson, 3rd, of 153rd Street School.
Kendal Anderson, 6th grade, from 156th Street Elementary School reads her winning essay. She Katim Gossaye and addressed the audience with
their essays about “What the American Flag Means to Me.”
Sean Dixon, a member of the Gardena Police Department Honor Guard, performs “Reveille” on the bugle during the Presentation of Color and the Raising of the American Flag. The National Anthem was performed by Michael Jackson of the First Southern Baptist Church of Gardena. Flag etiquette was by Steven Moriyama Sr. of the Gardena Nisei Memorial VFW Post 1961. Dan Medina served as the Master of Ceremonies. Rev. John Ward of the First Southern Baptist Church gave the benediction.
Members of Girl Scout Troop 3033 lead the Pledge of Allegiance during the June 14 Gardena Flag Day Celebration. Presentations were made by
Councilmember Emeritus Dan Medina, and Charitable Funds Benefitting Gardena board members Steve Koch and Barbara Phillips.