My grandparents all came to America through Ellis Island in the late 1800s and early 1900s. My paternal grandfather came from Germany when he was 4 years old.

He grew up knowing the amazing journey this country had given to him and his family and eventually was a soldier in the Spanish-American War. He taught his children to be proud of this country.

My father, Bob Katzenberger, taught all of his children to be patriotic and to have great pride in this, the greatest country in the world.

He wanted to join the military during World War II, but was rejected being told that his job was here and that he was needed here.

My brother served in the U.S. Navy and my sister’s grandson died in this war we are fighting in Iraq.

All this being said, I want to applaud a decision made by the Ironton-Lawrence County Memorial Day Parade Committee this past week: The decision to not allow the Confederate flag to be flown throughout the parade.

While the Civil War was a huge part of our history, the Confederates lost the war and to continue to fly the Confederate flag is a disgrace to the American flag.

It’s a disgrace to all of us who are proud to be Americans in this great country of ours.

The Memorial Day Parade is something to be proud of and it is a time to remember and honor our veterans who have achieved the greatness of our UNITED States of America. And to honor others who have achieved greatness in the same manner.

It is also my understanding that those who are unhappy with the decision of the parade committee plan to “peacefully demonstrate” against the committee and parade.

How they do that is beyond me, but I hope all who feel as I do, in the pride of America, will peacefully ignore any demonstration they choose to do.

Isn’t it amazing the parade has gone on for more than 100 years and this, being the first year we have an African-American president in the White House, is the first year this has happened?

Lori Thomas

Ironton