Patriotic Richland Man

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Story Published: Jul 5, 2009 at 11:31 AM PST

By Holly Zuluaga

RICHLAND— For some the 4th of July means fireworks and festivities, but for Richard Rogers, it’s much more.

“It's the freedom to be safe and the opportunity that freedom brings, the opportunity to work hard and to do these things that you think are right by your own country and by your family,” Richard Rogers said.

July 4th is his favorite holiday, but it doesn't matter the day. Richard shares his patriotism year round.

“I'll see a flag pole early in the morning and I pull over and I walk up to them and it's obviously an odd situation, but I ask politely if they want to hear the national anthem,” Rogers confessed.

Action News followed Richard and his family, and we ran into a group of girls.

They were starting an Independence Day tradition of their own.

They were counting honks for America.

Richard pulled over, applauded their efforts, and sang for them.

Richard says that's what it's all about.

“If I go by somewhere and by stopping and sharing my gift with them, and sharing my feelings of freedom just by singing the national anthem and it makes their day then that's something that we're giving to each other,” Rogers said.

He's dedicated over 50 flags, sang at the Dust Devils game, boat races, and other events all over the Tri-Cities.

“This is the way that I can serve my country the best,” Rogers said.

This service began when he was four years old.

“It's always been a real passion of mine to be patriotic, I think it's the right of every American to have that passion,” Richard Rogers said.

The passion is close Richard's heart, and is heard everywhere he goes.

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