Bay City, Michigan 48706
Front Page 03/28/2024 19:00 About us
www.mybaycity.com June 15, 2013
(Prior Story)   Community ArTicle 8213   (Next Story)

Bay City Elks Hold Flag Day Celebration

June 15, 2013       1 Comments
By: Stephen Kent

Printer Friendly Story View

The Bay City Elks Lodge held it's annual celebration of Flag Day at the War Memorial in Veteran's park on Friday. The colors were presented by the Bay County Veterans Council Honor Guard. The Harbor Sounds Chorus sang the Star Spangled Banner.

George Lynch, Exalted Ruler of the Bay City Lodge #88, began his remarks by noting that "The purpose of this service is to honor our country's flag, to celebrate the anniversary of its birth, and to recall the achievements of fame beneath its folds."

The Order of Elks is an appropriate body to honor the flag. Elks are a distinctively American and intensely patriotic organization without counterpart. Charity, Justice, Brotherly Love and Fidelity are the cardinal principals of Elks. The order teaches love of country and loyalty to the American way of life. To be an Elk is to be an American Citizen.

Flag day may have been first mentioned as early as 1861. The first observance of the day dates to 1885. President Harry S. Truman's signed the Act of Congress formally establishing the day in 1949. The Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks is the first and only organization that required formal observation of Flag Day.

Following prayer Howard Diehl presented the history of the flag of the United States. As each of the flags was described, Boy Scouts from Troop 150 brought that flag to the front for display.

Elks sponsor an annual Americanism Essay Contest each year for school children grades five through eight. The Bay City lodge has had six participants go on to the state level and beyond in the last two years. This year's contest theme was "What does the national anthem mean to me". Three students from Bangor Lincoln Elementary won this year's district contest. Nathan Jacobs, who's essay went to the state level, was present to read his essay.

Following additional song, the veterans fired a rifle salute and the colors were retired to the playing of taps.

Howard Diehl (at podium) gives brief history of each flag while Exalted Ruler, George Lynch stands)
Attendees listen to history of flag, patriotic songs, and speeches
Nathan Jacobs, local Americanism Essay winner reads his work
"What the National Anthem Means to me"
Veterans fire salute to flags
Colors are retired to the playing of Taps


Printer Friendly Story View
Prior Article

February 10, 2020
by: Rachel Reh
Family Winter Fun Fest is BACC Hot Spot for 2/10/2020
Next Article

February 2, 2020
by: Kathy Rupert-Mathews
MOVIE REVIEW: "Just Mercy" ... You Will Shed Tears, or at Least You Should

"The BUZZ" - Read Feedback From Readers!

ER says:       On June 16, 2013 at 09:23 PM
Thank you for coming out and covering this important day in our Order of Elks and our Country
Agree? or Disagree?


Stephen Kent

Steve Kent and his family have lived in Bay City for 40 years. He is VP of Technical Services at MMCC which produces MyBayCity.Com. Kent is active in many Bay City civic organizations.

More from Stephen Kent

Send This Story to a Friend!       Letter to the editor       Link to this Story
Printer-Friendly Story View


--- Advertisments ---
     


0200 Nd: 03-24-2024 d 4 cpr 0






12/31/2020 P3v3-0200-Ad.cfm

SPONSORED LINKS



12/31/2020 drop ads P3v3-0200-Ad.cfm


Designed at OJ Advertising, Inc. (V3) (v3) Software by Mid-Michigan Computer Consultants
Bay City, Michigan USA
All Photographs and Content Copyright © 1998 - 2024 by OJA/MMCC. They may be used by permission only.
P3V3-0200 (1) 0   ID:Default   UserID:Default   Type:reader   R:x   PubID:mbC   NewspaperID:noPaperID
  pid:1560   pd:11-18-2012   nd:2024-03-24   ax:2024-03-28   Site:5   ArticleID:8213   MaxA: 999999   MaxAA: 999999
claudebot