DETROIT – It can be seen waving on public buildings and private homes. It can be seen immortalized in times of war. The American Flag means many things.
As the grandson of a World War II veteran, Michael Soviak's passion for the nation's flag started when he was just 15 years old with the formation of his Revolution Flag Foundation.
"What does the flag mean to you?" Mitch Albom asked.
"It means freedom, obviously, patriotism. We are the beacon of hope, the beacon of freedom, the beacon of equality, and I think that that flag represents all the great things that we have accomplished," Soviak said. "(There are) places that there should be flags, like police stations, schools, parks, and we step in there to make that flying right."
Soviak's foundation raises money to replace and repair flags and flagpoles all over metro Detroit. While doing the great work, Soviak noticed another issue: that many memorial parks have fallen into disrepair.
"What was the first park that you got involved with?" Albom asked.
"It was Hardstein. It is on the city's west side and the plaque was old. It was kind of deteriorating," Soviak said. "The pole was really old. It's a memorial. It should be flowers. It should be a place of gathering for people who want to remember the veterans."
With the help of volunteers and donations by the public, Soviak is bringing back the dilapidated parks and keeping the memories of the veterans alive, something of which he thinks his grandfather would be proud.
"The history of the veterans that the parks represent is so important to me," Soviak said. "If I can somehow ensure that their memories stay on and live on, it's an honor to be a part of it."
Honoring veterans and the country, Soviak is raising the nation's flag in the heart of Detroit.