Recently, Indiana High School student Cameron Blasek received an unexpected, yet patriotic surprise for his truck after he refused to take down an American flag from the back of his truck at the request of school administrators. Following the incident, a local business gave Blasek a free American flag-inspired paint job for his vehicle.
The 17-year-old student proudly demonstrated his pride for America by flying the nation’s colors on his vehicle for the majority of his senior year. However, school officials requested that Blasek remove the flag with the threat of detention. “I was shocked. Didn’t really expect it,” he said, recounting the event.
However, Blasek took to the school’s handbook, failing to find any specific text prohibiting such action. “They had told me if you don’t remove this flag, you’re getting written up for insubordination. And I told them, hey, you know, there’s no rules or regulations saying I can’t, I read the [rules] off their handbook,” he said.
After Blasek got in trouble with school administrators, he noted that other students came out in full force showing their support and solidarity. “I guess other students had heard about that and they showed up the next day with flags on the back of their vehicles,” he added.
Following the incident, which garnered national media attention, TJ Bedacht, owner of the Cincinnati-based business GCI Digital, stated that, “We saw Cameron’s story and it resonated with us in a lot of ways. The truck was his grandfather’s and Cameron is a true American, interested in serving in the US Military.”
“I love it. It’s only been one day at school so far, but, I think it’s great. I love driving around with the big flag all over the vehicle. I think it’s awesome,” Blasek said, emphasizing his affinity for the new paint job on his vehicle.
“I think the American flag represents people who fought and served for this country and lost their lives. But I also think it represents a sense of unity in this country,” he said, explaining his stance on the patriotic symbol. “I think it’s something that everybody can agree on, no matter who you are or where you come from or what you look like. I think that’s something that can bring people together.”
The teenager offered wisdom from what he had learned throughout the ordeal, where he battled against his school for the right to fly the flag. “Stand for what you believe in. Hold your ground on any situation that you believe in.” See Cameron’s new improvements to his truck below:
However, the high school’s principal, Tom Black, maintained that the rule had nothing to do with the American flag, but rather, it was intended to promote safety for students driving in the parking lot. Black explained to Fox News that the rule “was never about the U.S. flag and it was regarding all flags on vehicles.” He added, “This is due to potential safety issues with visibility and 500-600 teenage drivers leaving at the same time during dismissal, as well as concerns that flags that are not appropriate for school will be displayed.”
Note: The featured image is a screenshot from the embedded video.
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