ND Dame, St. Pat students team up to bring retired flag box to 16th District

by BRIAN NADIG

Two teens from rival high schools — who also happen to be cousins — have teamed up to bring a retired flag box to the lobby of the 16th (Jefferson Park) District Police Station, 5151 N. Milwaukee Ave.

At a Sept. 11 dedication ceremony, Notre Dame College Prep High School senior Sean Washkevich and Saint Patrick High School junior Jude Del Pilar discussed what led to the box’s creation. Flag boxes are places where deteriorating flags are collected and then turned over to a veterans or other group which disposes of them in a dignified manner, preferably by burning.

“The story of this flag box starts out simple. One day my parents and I were out driving and noticed a box outside of a firehouse. The box was painted with the colors of the American flag. It was a pretty cool looking box, so we decided to get out and look at it.

“My parents explained to me that it was a flag box for retired American flags and the importance of properly disposing of the American flag. I asked where there was a flag box in our community, and we really couldn’t think of one, so that’s when we decided to build one and find a home for it,” Washkevich said.

Del Pilar said, “I’m very happy to be asked to be a part of this project with my cousin. Sean and I joke all the time about him going to Notre Dame and me going to Saint Pat’s, who’s better, which team beat who, who’s smarter. We know there has always been a huge rivalry between our schools.

“Rivalry is great and can be healthy, but at the end of the day, many of us, no matter what school we go to, live in the same neighborhoods and may even live right next to each other. We are all a part of the same community. We are brothers, and we need to take care of our community and each other.”

They did get some help with the construction of the box from Saint Patrick alum (class of 1980) Jack Flisk, a retired police officer who likes to build decks, and Caleb Schmidt, who graduated from Notre Dame in 2020.

For Washkevich and Del Pilar, the flag box serves as a tribute to veterans and first responders. Their grandfathers served in the military, and they have multiple relatives who have served on the police force.
“Today we dedicate this flag box to our military, police officers, firefighters and all other first responders in our community. First responders are the unsung heroes of our communities. Thank you for answering the call that keeps us all safe,” said Washkevich, who last year along with his cousin volunteered to cook for the 16th District during the National Democratic Convention, when officers faced longer shifts.

Others participating in the dedication included Notre Dame senior Zachary Grace, who played the National Anthem on his trumpet, Mary Undoer of Knots Boy Scout Troop 949, which presented the colors during the ceremony, and American Legion Billy Caldwell Post 806 member Dale Tippett, who talked about the importance of the flag. Aldermen James Gardiner (45th) and Felix Cardona Jr. (31st) also participated.

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