Citizen Potawatomi Nation member Roy Wano has an interesting hobby. More than 15 year ago Wano began travelling the country looking for opportunities to honor Veterans by performing flag presentation ceremonies at major events.
“I do this because I have a deep love for our veterans and our country,” said Wano. “If it weren’t for them we wouldn’t have the freedoms we have today. Any time I can honor them I try to do so.”
Wano’s began travelling with this giant flag in 1976, helping his father, MSCS Max Wano who is an Ambassador for the Oklahoma Military Hall of Fame, and member of the Citizen Potawatomi Nation Veterans Group – Flag Team. The flag has made stops at parades, military events, conventions and sporting events.
The flag measures in at 76’X50’ and weighs more than 2,000 pounds when it’s open. It takes a team of about 40 volunteers to perform a ceremony. Wano does not charge for flag presentations, but does suggest a $50 donation.
Wano will travel to Tulsa, Okla. with his flag to help celebrate the Tulsa Drillers home opener and to Shawnee, Okla. on April 13 for the Veteran’s Awareness Celebration at the Shawnee Veteran’s Memorial. For more information and booking details please visit http://neraflag.org.
Wano is the promotions director for the Naval Enlisted Reserve Association. The mission of NERA is to promote “Honor & Patriotism” to our great nation. Honor the Veterans of the: Past and Present, that have made our freedom more meaningful. To remember the extreme sacrifices that these brave men and women have made.