Senator Hwang hand-delivers new flag to McKinley School for Flag Day

FAIRFIELD – Sen. Tony Hwang recently received a letter from McKinley School third grader Adie Steger, who had noticed that their school flag had become frayed and tattered. Adie had asked her grandfather, Sam Fischer, what she could do to try to get a new flag.

Fischer said, “Call Senator Tony Hwang!”

Touched by Adie’s patriotism and initiative, Sen. Hwang reached out to Fischer to arrange a surprise ceremony at McKinley School during their Flag Day celebration.

On June 14, after the McKinley Singers led the Pledge of Allegiance and sang the National Anthem, Sen. Hwang, accompanied by the McKinley students and faculty, presented Adie and her schoolmates with a brand new flag that had been flown over the Connecticut State Capitol. (photos attached)

Sen. Hwang said, “It was important to have this ceremony to show that a third grader who believes in something can make a positive difference.  Adie Steger did just that. Secondly, as an immigrant, the American Flag to me represents the diversity of our great country, reflected in the incredible diversity here at McKinley School. It represents the freedoms we all enjoy and the freedoms that our veterans fought to protect.”

Fairfield veterans Tom Quinn, Peter Vetrosky, Ron Drew and Ron Orszag assisted in the flag retirement ceremony, hoisting the new Star Spangled Banner with the help of the McKinley Singers’ rendition of It’s a Grand Old Flag.

*Sen. Hwang represents Connecticut’s 28th Senatorial District which includes Fairfield, Easton, Weston, Westport, Newtown and Sandy Hook.  He can be reached at 800-842-1421 and at Tony.Hwang@cga.ct.gov. On the web: www.SenatorHwang.com.

Sen. Hwang: Malloy’s Veto of Bill to Support Teacher and Student Classroom Safety is “Perplexing”, Sends Wrong Message

Sen. Tony Hwang is urging a legislative override of Gov. Dannel P. Malloy’s veto of Senate Bill 453: An Act Concerning Classroom Safety and Disruptive Behavior.

The bill includes measures to require boards of education to address daily classroom safety in their safe school climate plans and provide support for training and assistance for teachers.

“We want our schools to be as safe as they can be for our students and teachers,” Sen. Hwang said.  “We want to create classroom environments that are free of violence, threats and disruption. There must be zero tolerance.  That’s why it is perplexing to see Gov. Malloy veto this bill.  What message does such a veto send?  This bill passed unanimously in the Connecticut State Senate.  It is my hope that as Democrats and Republicans, we come together to override the governor and send the right message to our teachers and students.”

Sen. Hwang recently was successful in pushing for a Connecticut law to increase the penalties for when a threat involves a preschool, K-12 school or an institution of higher education. Sen. Hwang noted that such threats of violence can have a devastating impact on the psyches of parents, educators and children.

*Sen. Hwang represents Easton, Fairfield, Newtown, Weston and Westport. On the web: www.SenatorHwang.com.  He can be reached atTony.Hwang@cga.ct.gov and at 800-842-1421.