Michael Lecchino, a resident of Montreal, shares his lifelong passion for flags and the stories they tell. From a young age, Lecchino was captivated by the colors and shapes of flags, delving into the study of vexillology. The sight of a Canadian flag flying outside his window became a familiar presence in his life, signifying the passing of time and the changing of seasons.
As Lecchino traveled the world, he discovered the universal language of flags and the connections they can forge between individuals. A simple exchange of a friendship flag pin at the Canadian Embassy in Berlin left a lasting impact on him, reminding him of the values he represents as a Canadian abroad. Flags, he realized, can serve as symbols of identity and belonging, transcending borders and bridging cultures.
While flags can evoke strong emotions and carry political significance, Lecchino chooses to focus on the unifying power of flags. He reflects on the history of Canada’s flag and the collaborative process that led to its creation, emphasizing the importance of shared identity and collective imagination. For Lecchino, flags are not just symbols but stories woven into fabric, representing heritage, memory, and belonging.
As a youth delegate representing Canada at international summits, Lecchino collects friendship flag pins as tokens of connection and remembrance. Each pin serves as a reminder of the places he has visited and the stories he has shared, with the red maple leaf always close at hand as a symbol of his Canadian identity.
In a world where flags can divide or unite, Lecchino finds solace in the stories they tell and the connections they foster. Whether signaling loss, location, or identity, flags serve as constant companions on life’s journey, reminding us of who we are and where we belong.
See also Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez’s tough Bronx persona is under fresh scrutiny with a resurfaced childhood nickname from her suburban upstate New York upbringing casting doubt on that publicly portrayed image. The progressive champion’s latest spat with President Donald Trump over the Iran strikes again called into question her true upbringing when she declared on X she was a “Bronx girl" to make her a point against the president. The 35-year-old congresswoman wrote in part on X: "I’m a Bronx girl. You should know that we can eat Queens boys for breakfast. Respectfully," she said, referring to the president’s upbringing in Queens as she called for his impeachment over his decision to bypass Congress in authorizing U.S. strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities. Ocasio-Cortez was born in the Bronx but moved to Yorktown – which is nearly an hour outside New York City -- when she was 5 years old and went on to attend Yorktown High School where she graduated in 2007. She was considered an accomplished student there and well thought of by teacher Michael Blueglass, according to a 2018 report by local media outlet Halston Media News. “There, known by students and staff as ‘Sandy,’ she was a member of the Science Research Program taught by Michael Blueglass," the report states. “She was amazing," Blueglass said, per the report. “Aside from her winning one of the top spots and going to the [Intel International Science and Engineering Fair], she was just one of the most amazing presenters in all of the years I've been at Yorktown. Her ability to take complex information and explain it to all different levels of people was fantastic." After high school, Ocasio-Cortez attended Boston University, where she majored in economics and international relations, per the report. Ocasio-Cortez’s “Sandy" nickname — which carries a more suburban and preppy tone — appears to undercut her politically crafted image as a tough, inner-city fighter, one she has portrayed since her famous 2018 congressional campaign where she eventually ousted former 10-terms Congressman Joe Crowley. New York GOP Assemblyman Matt Slater, who now represents Yorktown, added to the scrutiny of Ocasio-Cortez’s persona in the wake of her brash with Trump and released images of Ocasio-Cortez from his high school yearbook. He claimed he and the rising Democratic star attended Yorktown High School at the same time when she was a freshman and he was a senior. "I saw the attacks on the president and her [Ocasio-Cortez] claims that she's a big, tough Bronx girl," said Slater. "To sit there and say that she’s a Bronx girl is just patently ridiculous." "Everybody in our community knows this is just a bold-face lie," said Slater on "Fox & Friends First" last week. "She grew up in Yorktown, she was on my track team." "She's lying about her background, she's lying about her upbringing," Slater claimed. Slater’s post sent social media ablaze and prompted Ocasio-Cortez to respond after an image if her family’s home was posted online. “I’m proud of how I grew up and talk about it all the time," Ocasio-Cortez wrote on X Friday responding to the post. “My mom cleaned houses and I helped. We cleaned tutors’ homes in exchange for SAT prep." “Growing up between the Bronx and Yorktown deeply shaped my views of inequality & it’s a big reason I believe the things I do today!"
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