Show Of Unity Backfires For Some Local Students

Last week some local teens got a crash course they won’t find in textbooks.

Cathedral High School students said they wanted to show unity, tolerance and respect, but their presentation didn’t go as planned.

Students told ABC-7 they were trying a unique approach at bringing the diverse student body closer together.

Apparently some of the teenagers began booing at both the American and Mexican flags as they were presented as a sign of unity during a football pep rally.

“Some of our underclassmen acted very childish and it did not come out as well as we had thought it would,” explained Cathedral senior Kyle Windham.

“When the American flag came out, some other students were booing it, but it’s because they didn’t know,” said Eric Valdez, also a senior.

As a result, upper and lowerclassmen allegedly booed the Mexican flag. It all happened during a scheduled flag presentation inside the school’s gym.

Now students are getting a crash course in respect.

“We actually joined in the middle to show unification of Mexico and the U.S. and really, that’s what it was for,” Windham said of the presentation.

Unity among students who come from both sides of the border. Some say it was all a misunderstanding and not a big deal.

“There’s no reason. You know? Because we do respect it and we hope that they respect our flag,” said Memo Bayona, a Cathedral senior.

But one Vietnam veteran said disrespecting the American flag is inexcusable, even if it’s a form of freedom of speech.

“I have seen friends shed their blood for this country,” Jesus Meraz told ABC-7.

The retired senior chief was in the U.S. Navy for more than 20 years.

“Red, white, blue. Red is for the blood that’s been shed. Blue is for the country. White is for the purity. That’s what I believe it represents. This nation under God,” said Meraz. “The United States flag is what I live for.”

“I know it was bad, but in the end I think the result was good. I think we all learned our lesson, right?” explained Bayona.

“I’m not going to say it’s a sad day because from this we’ve learned a lot,” said Windham.

Students told ABC-7, as a result of the incident, officials from Fort Bliss will be visiting with classes at Cathedral High School to speak about the importance of patriotism.

School officials did not say if any students were reprimanded for the booing.