Seneca Valley teacher honored at state Capitol for role in flag day
The state House of Representatives honored a Seneca Valley School District teacher and track and field coach Wednesday, Dec. 17, at the state Capitol after his letter to a representative got Pennsylvania its state flag day.
Wayne Roccia, previously a sixth-grade teacher, had taught his students the origins and meaning of the United States flag.
He discovered even fewer students were educated on the Pennsylvania flag, so his class discussed its parts, the meaning of the Coat of Arms and various state symbols.
In the 1980s, his class discovered there was no Pennsylvania flag day and wrote a letter to his local representative. Roccia said the day should be celebrated on Oct. 14 for William Penn’s birthday.
The resolution was unanimously passed by the state House of Representatives and Senate and was signed into law by Gov. Richard Thornburgh.
Forty years later, Roccia discussed flag day with his grandchildren, who were skeptical their grandfather had a hand in creating a state holiday.
“Unbeknownst to me, a couple of grandkids decided to do some investigative work and contacted state Rep. Jeremy Shaffer, R-28th,” Roccia said in a Facebook post.
Shaffer’s team found the original resolution in the House archives and invited Roccia to the state Capitol. Roccia said he and his grandchildren were given a tour of the Capitol and archives after being welcomed by Shaffer and state Rep. Stephenie Scialabba, R-12th.
