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Ziggy: The Passing of an Icon
Video Still Credit: Palin Smith
Known to the residents of Connecticut as Ziggy the Flagman, Zeqir Berisha passed on Christmas Day. An immigrant from communist Kosovo, Zeqir adopted and loved this country. In Connecticut, Ziggy was an absolute icon of America.
Some misunderstood both his passion for this country and his fear of encroaching communism — a passion and a fear that refugees from Marxist states often show. Others however, a bit more deplorable, understood these perfectly. And this polarizing presence is what made him an icon.
I expect his wake Sunday to be accompanied by a display of flag bearing crowds usually reserved for the passing of a beloved politician. And I also expect there to be an outpouring of condolences and offerings from Connecticut refugees across the nation.
Requiescas in pace, Zeqir: Patriot, Icon, American.
Published in General
RIP, Ziggy.
Thank you for your contribution Ziggy.
Funny how folks who have seen communism up close and personal are almost always the most fervent anti-communists.
Ain’t that the truth!
Thank you for letting us know about this wonderful Patriot!
I have sent this out to my friends with this subject line: “We so desperately need more Ziggys!”
Happy New Year, and
God Bless America!
Jim.
Our finest and our worst Americans seem always to be imports.
What a great story Rick, for so many reasons. God bless Ziggy – he is the example of the immigrant who recognized our wonderful country and all it stands for with what he fled in the background.
“News at 11:00” short spot video: 0:07 – 0:23
People are already planning to line the route from the church to the cemetery.
One of the purposes of Teddy Kennedy‘s immigration reform in the 60s was to keep out people like this. Refugees from Communism tend to vote Republican.
The local News 8 piece from last night, the full video of their news spot (not the “news at 11” short spot) is included in the piece.
From the write up, one state rep “says there’s preliminary talk of some sort of memorial to be built in Ziggy’s honor.”
Some pictures posted on Facebook from outside the funeral home.
A facebook video of classic Ziggy. Watch and you’ll get it.
That was really wonderful, so thank you Rick.
Not my town, but I suspect a bronze roadside Perpetual Flag Waver might discourage future Ziggys.
And wouldn’t it be something for another immigrant to pick up his – and our – banner?
The local independent newspaper The Waterbury Observer just posted an absolutely beautiful write-up on Ziggy. It captures the man well.
Video: civilian honor guard at the cemetery for Zeqir Berisha (Ziggy the Flagman)
From a now deleted post.
Yesterday morning, Ricochet promoted to the main feed my short post about the passing of a local icon in Waterbury, Connecticut – Zeqir Berisha (Ziggy the Flagman). Last night, a local independent newspaper in Waterbury published an absolutely outstanding piece on the man which covered the writer’s almost 20 year friendship with Zeqir. This morning, Zeqir will be laid to rest. If you have a few minutes to spare, then you could do worse than to read this outstanding piece about Waterbury’s unapologetic patriot.
Also of interest: yesterday’s local channel 8 news spot.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k4wwAkhL9BI