What’s New at Normandie Ridge

Operation Patriotism Program Held in Honor of Normandie Ridge War Veterans

November 15, 2006

In celebration of Veteran’s Day, Bill Zinnert of Operation Patriotism graced Normandie Ridge Senior Living Community with a flag presentation on November 10 at 10:30 a.m. in the facility’s Multi-Purpose Room.

Bill started his Program, known as Operation Patriotism in 1972 afterattending an Air Force NCO Academy in Knoxville, TN where Major. General. I.G. Brown, USAFasked Grads to go out and inform people about our country's flags. Being a Maryland native, Bill started out with only four Maryland flags.Today he has over 30 flags starting from 1632 to the present. He is sponsored by the Stewartstown American Legion Post 455.

  He conducts about 35 shows between April and December each year in schools, hospitals, legislative and veteran affairs, and senior centers.  He has presented as far north as New York and as far south as Tennessee.  His programs are free of charge and are about an hour in length; donations are welcome.

Thisis a busy time for Bill due to Veteran's Day Programs.This past Monday he presented his program in three upper Adams County Elementary Schools toover 600 children.

"I just love sitting on the floor talking to the Kindergarten kids," Bill relates. Meeting new people and talking about the history of the Nation's Flagsis what the Program is all about.

Bill retired in 1984 after spending 31 years in the military.  He moved to Pennsylvania in 1990 from Maryland.  For more information on Operation Patriotism, please contact Bill Zinnert at (717) 993-5283 or email him at zinnert1@aol.com.