The Flag Represents My Life (Lt. Hernandez remarks)
Benedictine College in Atchison, Kansas, dedicated its new Independence Hall library on Sept. 26, 2026. Brief remarks at the event included Benedictine College alumnus U.S. Marine Corps Lt. Arturo Hernandez, who led the Pledge of Allegiance. President Stephen D. Minnis introduced him this way:
“Now, as we move toward the conclusion of our program, it is my pleasure to welcome a Benedictine alum from the Class of 2022 and a young man of whom we are all very proud, United States Marine Corps Lieutenant Arturo Hernandez, who is back in town from his station in Panama.”
For links to other remarks, read: College Dedicates Independence Hall Library With Justice Barrett
To see the entire event, watch: Benedictine College Library Dedication | Ft. Justice Amy Coney Barrett
Lt. Hernandez’s remarks follow.
It is a profound honor to stand before you today—on this historic occasion, and in a place that means so much to me, and I want to explain that. I came to this country from Mexico as a child, with my mother. She came to America with a dream. A dream of opportunity. A dream of freedom. A dream of giving her children a better life.
And America gave us that chance. We worked hard. We sacrificed. We believed. And we pursued the American dream. Ten years after I arrived in this country, I experienced one of the most extraordinary moments of my life. I raised my hand, I took the oath, and I became a citizen of the United States of America.
That moment changed my life forever. Because citizenship, to me, is more than a piece of paper. It is a privilege. It is a responsibility. And it is a promise. A promise that I will never forget what this country has given me.
I promised that I would give something back. And after I graduated, it led me to the United States Marine Corps. I entered officer training and earned my commission. And today, I have the extraordinary privilege of leading my fellow Marines while serving our nation overseas.
I have learned that freedom has a cost. I have learned that service requires sacrifice. And I have learned that some things are worth standing for — no matter the cost. America is one of those things.
So today, standing here on American soil, there is something that still takes my breath away…the American flag. When I see those stars and stripes, I don’t just see a flag. I see my mother’s courage. I see the sacrifices of my family. I see the opportunity America gave a young boy who arrived here with a dream. I see the oath I took to become an American.
And I see the men and women who have served — and continue to serve — to protect the freedoms that flag represents. So, with tremendous pride, I invite you to join me now. Please stand. Turn toward our flag. And together, let us pledge our allegiance to the United States of America.
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