CASTLE ROCK, Colorado — Not every 12-year-old spends his weekends doing speaking engagements, but Jaiden Rodriguez has been in demand ever since he refused to remove his Gadsden flag patch at school.

The Colorado Springs boy was the featured speaker at a Brave Books weekend reading sponsored by Grandparents 4 Kids, where he read aloud Kevin Sorbo’s book “The Test of Lionhood” to dozens of rapt children and parents at the Castle Rock Library.

Looking sharp in his blue blazer, khaki slacks and red tie, Jaiden met and took photos with children and parents afterward, then headed off to speak at Remnant Revolution, a Christian revival tour, in Colorado Springs.

“I just like to support kids in getting knowledge,” Jaiden told The Washington Times. “I like this book because it talks about bravery, and I’m just glad they’re here to listen to me, that they’re hearing about how to be brave.”

The seventh-grader has embraced his role as a youthful champion of conservative values after being pulled out of class in late August for sporting a yellow “Don’t Tread on Me” flag on his backpack. 

A viral video posted by “The Tuttle Twins” author Connor Boyack showed a school administrator telling him the patch has its origins in slavery. 

The episode touched off a national uproar over American history and free speech. 

The Vanguard School Board of Directors quickly reversed course, saying that the charter school “recognizes the historical significance of the Gadsden flag and its place in history” and allowing Jaiden to keep the patch.

He has since been featured in interviews with Daily Wire founder Ben Shapiro, Newsmax host Eric Bolling, and Turning Point USA founder Charlie Kirk. His home screen shows a photo of him with Daily Wire podcaster Matt Walsh.

Colorado Gov. Jared Polis, a Democrat, reacted by calling the Gadsden flag a “proud symbol of the American revolution.”

And yet Jaiden’s saga isn’t over. 

The Foundation for Individual Rights in Education has written two letters to Harrison School District Two saying that school officials were also wrong to ban him from wearing a Firearms Policy Coalition patch on his backpack.

In addition, Jaiden said his Gadsden flag patch went missing Friday at school. Given that it was held on by heavy-duty Velcro, he suspects foul play.

“[Someone] definitely snatched it,” said Jaiden. “Birds didn’t take it off, that’s for sure. It was tight Velcro. They could have done it maybe when I was at lunch.”

He said he reported the missing patch to the front office at school, but that nobody had turned it in.

“I don’t know what to do now. I’m sure we can order another one,” Jaiden said. “If I could find it, that would be better.”

Most of his fellow students at the Vanguard School have backed him, he said, although “a few were kind of not supportive.”

“It’s just insane that it happened in general, the fact that she [the administrator] thought it was related to slavery,” Jaiden said. “The sad thing is that people are getting false knowledge.”

There was no shortage of fans at the Brave Books reading. 

Linda White, founder of Grandparents 4 Kids, said Jaiden was the ideal person to read the Sorbo book at the children’s story hour because “we love the idea of a brave young boy reading a Brave Book.”

“The reason we asked you here today is because of your bravery,” she told Jaiden at the event. “We’re grandparents, and we want our grandkids to understand history the way you understand it, and a lot of times, that’s not being taught in schools.”

Founded in March, the Colorado-based Grandparents 4 Kids has held four children’s story hours in public libraries, inspired by the Brave Books national library tour featuring Christian actor and author Kirk Cameron in response to libraries sponsoring drag queens reading to kids.

“I don’t want to just leave a legacy of love to my grandkids. I also want to leave a legacy of non-political academic education and a love for our country,” Ms. White said. “So that’s what Grandparents 4 Kids is all about. And that’s why we’ve been doing Brave Books story hours.”

Jaiden promoted the reading on his Instagram page, @basedbackpackboy, by quipping: “I know I’m not a drag queen. But I aspire to be just as and if not more entertaining while reading children’s books. Just not in a weird way.”

Accompanying Jaiden at the Brave Books reading was his mother, Eden Rodriguez, three younger brothers and a younger sister. His mom said she’s been impressed at how well he’s handled the attention.

“I’m very proud of him. I’ve always told them to stand up for what they believe in,” Mrs. Rodriguez said as she juggled a restless baby. “Whenever I’m on camera or anything, I’m nervous, but he’s so quick with it and so witty. People don’t expect it coming from kids.”

What’s next for Jaiden? At the library, one of parents asked him if he had political aspirations. He said he wanted to be governor of Colorado, and maybe even president, much to the delight of the audience.

Also drawing applause was Mrs. Rodriguez, who didn’t hesitate when asked for her parenting advice.

“No TV,” she said. “Books. They pick up books.”

• Valerie Richardson can be reached at vrichardson@washingtontimes.com.