RATHDRUM — Lakeland High School choir and band teacher Mark Sescilla was so moved by his love for America, he wrote a song about it: "That's My Flag."

"I'm not a veteran," Sescilla said. "My dad is a veteran, all my three brothers are veterans, half my uncles were veterans. I never went that path, my career took me a different way but I have a great appreciation and I just want to say thank you to you veterans out there that allow the rest of us to do what we want to do and have the freedom to do it."

Sescilla spoke Saturday morning during the ninth annual Veterans Recognition Day ceremony at Lakeland High, coordinated by American Legion Post 154 and the city of Rathdrum. Sescilla said he wrote "That's My Flag" in 2021 while feeling frustrated by others who disrespected the flag and America.

"They have the freedom to do that, but there is just something about seeing that flag, to me, when I see that I see all the things that our country stands for," Sescilla said. "I'm just so proud of our flag and proud of our country and proud of you veterans."

He performed the song as one of several musical interludes that took place during the event, including the entire Sescilla family's rendition of "America the Beautiful."

The Veterans Recognition Day was well attended by multiple generations of veterans as well as local dignitaries, including Kootenai County Sheriff Bob Norris, Kootenai County Commissioner Bill Brooks, outgoing Rathdrum Mayor Vic Holmes and Rathdrum Mayor-elect Mike Hill.

Activities of the day included the American Legion Post 154 Honor Guard posting the colors, the Northwest Guardian Riders' presentation of the veterans wreath, the mayor's proclamation as read by Rathdrum City Councilman Steven Adams, who served as a Navy combat veteran in the Vietnam War.

"American Legion Post 154 in Rathdrum, to have the opportunity to be able to share our Veterans Day with our local veterans here in the community, and have the community get together, it makes it such a fantastic day for all our veterans to say thank you and have a happy Veterans Day," said Post 154 Commander Dee Sasse, who was also the master of ceremonies for the event.

    Rathdrum City Councilman and Navy Vietnam War veteran Steven Adams reads the mayor's proclamation Saturday morning during Rathdrum's Veterans Day ceremony at Lakeland High.
  

    Rathdrum American Legion Post 154 First-Vice Commander Bill Kinder holds a salute Saturday morning during the Veterans Recognition Day event at Lakeland High School.