By Meg Ferrante
Staff Writer
 
"It’s what makes a nation good."

"It means you love your country."

"It tells people what is good about America."
That’s just three of the suggestions Morgan County Primary first graders had when asked the meaning of patriotism by a decorated World War II veteran.

Roger Sheridan, a retired U.S. Army Captain who fought in Germany with the 8th Armored Division, visited the first grade recently at the invitation of his daughter, first grade teacher Susan Johnston.

Sheridan, an honor guard member of the Veteran of Foreign Wars, has a Purple Heart and a Bronze Star of valor for heroic action in the war.

Sheridan taught the children the history of the flag (Did you know when George Washington designed the flag he took the stars from heaven, red from the mother country and the purity of white stripes in between the red to represent separating from England?), taught them how to hang and fold the flag and shared the good news that the students could be patriots themselves, just by respecting the flag.

“I’m used to dealing with grown men,” said Sheridan, who was clearly amused by the endless questions the children had for him about everything down to the belt buckle on his uniform and the bandage on his elbow.