“That was beautiful,” exclaimed a woman after observing the Camp Lejeune Chapter 329 of the National Sojourners present its program on the history of the American flag.

The presentation was part of the Veterans Day service presented by American Legion Auxiliary Unit No. 15 at Veterans Memorial Park in Washington on Veterans Day. The service’s purposed was to connect the American flag to veterans’ service to their country, said Betsey Lee Hodges, president of the auxiliary unit.

Keynote speaker W. Frank Stancil, adjutant of the North Carolina Department of the American Legion, honored all veterans, singling out women veterans for their service.

“Women are a major contributor to our military presence in Afghanistan, and many have given their lives on the war on terrorism,” Stancil said. “The American Legion recently issued a report calling upon the (Veterans Administration) to improve its response to the unique needs of women veterans.”

Stancil noted that America is home to 1.2 million women veterans who deserve the nation’s support.

“Ladies and gentlemen, let us always treat our 22 million veterans as the saviors of our country that they are. Even when the guns are no longer shooting, let us make every day Veterans Day,” Stancil said. “And remember, less than 2 percent of the citizens of our country served in the military. Two percent are the saviors of 98 percent.”

The National Sojourners’ presentation gave the history of the American flag, explaining the significance of the red stripes, white stripes and blue field with stars. They “built” different versions of the flag, beginning the Grand Union flag, which has the British Union jack in its upper-left corner to the present-day flag with 50 five-pointed stars and the 13 alternating red stripes and white stripes.

The service included songs sung by Carolina Chord Connection. The ensemble sang “The Star-Spangled Banner,” “Follow the Flag” and “God Bless America.” The group also sang the “Armed Forces Medley,” during which members of each branch of the U.S. armed forces were asked to stand when the ensemble sang the song identifying their branch of the military service.