ELKS 88 Flag Day Ceremony at the Band Shell is Big Success
Boy Scout Troops Join In to Honor Stars and Stripes
July 22, 2007
By: Dana Monville PER
Elks 88 Flag Day Ceremony in the Band Shell at Wenonah Park in downtown Bay City.
After two or three years of rain-outs, the Bay City Elks Flag
Day Ceremony was successfully performed in the Band Shell at
Wenonah Park in downtown Bay City.
It was sunny and warm
as the Lodge Officers were joined by the Bay County Veterans
Council and Boy Scout Troops #111 & #150 to in this event to
honor the Stars and Stripes. Exalted Ruler Dana Monville
started the Ritual with the singing of our National Anthem.
With the help of Elk member Don Good and American Legion
Post #18, our speaker was Sgt. Sherri Smith, of U.S. Army
Airborne Division 1434th Engineers Company, Grayling, who
spoke of her experiences in two assignments in Iraq. Following
her presentation,
she joined our
Exalted Ruler in
presenting a Medal
of Valor to Dan
and Cheryl
Wisniewski, the
parents of Justin
Wisniewski from
Standish, who died
in Iraq in May.
The Medals of
Valor were provided by the Grand Lodge of the Benevolent and
Protective Order of Elks, and will also be presented to the other
three servicemen in our area who were lost in Iraq.
To further honor these soldiers and all who have paid the
ultimate price, the Bay County Veterans Council followed the
medal presentation with a volley from their firing squad, and the
playing of Taps.
It was a very emotional experience.
Sandy and Phil Paulus then introduced four of the six winners
in the Elks Americanism Essay contest. Each student read their
essay, and then were presented with a certificate and cash award
from the Lodge.