Cody Alicea, a thirteen-year-old boy from Denair, California, was born into a military family.

So when he proudly displayed the American flag on his bike for a ride to school one day, he was utterly crushed — yet defiant — when he was told by the school district he had to remove it.

Eventually, the decision was overturned by administrators, but not before the town poured out en masse to award Cody with an apology … and a parade.

Watch the video for the young, proud American’s emotional reaction to the outpouring.