USA: Tibor Machan, 70, honored at Porterville Flag Day ceremony

. PORTERVILLE, California / The Porterville Recorder / Community / June 15, 2009 By Alex K.W. Schultz, The Porterville Recorder Tibor Machan doesn’t scoff at the idea of liberty. He’s worked too hard to do so. “The price of liberty is eternal vigilance,” Machan said. “You can never just sit on your laurels and expect it to be available.” Machan was the guest speaker during Sunday’s 28th Annual Flag Day celebration. The 70-year-old Machan, who was smuggled across the Iron Curtain from communist Hungary in October 1953, spoke of the American people’s inalienable rights. “The point of the American Republic is you and I are free to live our own lives,” said Machan, who taught philosophy from 1986 to 1996 at Auburn University in Montgomery, Ala. “This is so unusual, considering the history of American politics.” Machan said he was inspired to come to the U.S. by reading American novels. The current Chapman University professor lived in Munich, Germany, for three years before landing in America in September 1956 when he was 17 years old. He now knows the value of freedom. “You always have to go and guard against those who want to rob you of the liberty for various, marvelous or lousy goals,” he said. “It makes no difference what the goals are. Liberty is the most important thing in a community.” Click View picture gallery The one-year-old flag at Save Mart was retired Sunday and replaced by new stars and stripes. This year’s Old Glory was donated by Save Mart Supermarkets and Smith Enterprises, Save Mart Manager Rick Cutler said. Porterville Elks Lodge representatives raised the new flag while Yvonne Fiori sang the national anthem and hundreds of red, white and blue balloons were released into the sky. “It looks real nice, doesn’t it?” master of ceremonies Ed Flory said to the crowd as Old Glory danced in the wind. American Legion Post 20 members burned the old flag. A rifle salute was presented and followed by Denver Tate’s playing of “Taps.” “This is our town,” Mayor Cameron Hamilton said. “This is what we’re about.” Hamilton was presented the Community Service Award by Alta Mira Chapter, Daughters of the American Revolution for “serving this community diligently.” “To me, Flag Day and Veterans Day are probably the most premier things we do in Porterville,” Hamilton said. “These people who come out and gather for this and Veterans Day are doing it because we love our country and the people who serve.” Robert and Josie Carabay attended the celebration with their three granddaughters: Larissa Chavez, 13, Mia Carabay, 5, and Sofeeya Carabay, 4. “They put on a real good program,” Robert Carabay said. “They had a real good crowd, too.” Josie Carabay echoed her husband’s sentiments. “I think this event is important to the community,” she said, “because we need to respect our flag.” [rc] Copyright © 2009 Freedom Communications, Inc.