The John Bartram Chapter, NSDAR honored the Villages Veterans Affairs Clinic with a Braille Flag Friday morning at the Eisenhower Recreation Center.
Bonnie Miller, director of volunteers of the Villages VA Clinic, received the flag on behalf of the clinic.
The Braille Flag was created in 2000 by Randolph Cabral to honor his father Jesus Sanchez “Chuy” Cabral, who served in the Army Air Corps in World War II. Cabral’s father would fly the American flag outside his home until he became blind due to glaucoma.
Cabral then developed the Kansas City Braille Transcription Institution to create the Braille flag. On the flag, tactile graphic indicates the colors of the flag and the Pledge of Allegiance.
The chapter’s media chair Claudia Jacques gave the opening speech on the flag’s significance. Jacques and chapter member Connie Price then honored Miller with the flag. Price thanked Miller and the VA clinic’s efforts in supporting veterans.
Miller thanked the DAR organization for the award as it symbolizes the longstanding partnership between the Villages VA clinic and the chapter. She later stated that she hopes that the two groups will “keep the partnership going.”
Preceding the award presentation, the Sea Cadets, under the guidance of Lt. Robert Robbins of the American Legion Post 219, showed members of the DAR the proper way of folding the American flag.
A speech on flag etiquette followed the flag folding demonstration and a certificate award was presented to Lt. Robbins.
