| Wayne Scherschel, Sterling Wilson and Mario DiCaro of the American Legion present the colors on Flag Day. |
On June 14, the Elks Club and members of the American Legion celebrated Flag Day at the Price Peace Garden.
Ceremonies were conducted by the Elks’ exalted ruler, Jay Martin, with the Price American Legion acting as color guard.
Following the celebration, the club and American Legion members conducted a flag retirement ceremony at the Price Elks Lodge.
“Nearly 50 flags were retired that afternoon,” said Elks Club member Dan Johnson.
Retired flag are ceremoniously burned.
According to holidayinsights.com, the national event is a day for all Americans to celebrate and show respect for the flag, its designers and makers. The flag is representative of the independence and American unity as a nation.
“Our flag has a proud and glorious history. The Stars and Stripes has lead every battle fought by Americans. Many people have died protecting it. It even stands proudly on the face of the moon,” states the website.
The site stresses that there are proper ways to display the American flag:
•The flag is normally flown from sunrise to sunset. The flag should be raised briskly in the morning and lowered slowly at sunset.
•The flag should not be flown unlighted at night.
•The flag should not be flown in inclement weather.
•After a tragedy or death, the flag should be flown at half staff for 30 days.
The practice is referred to as half staff on land and half mast on a ship.
•When flown vertically, the stars and blue field should be displayed at the top of the pole away from the home or building where it is displayed.
•The American flag is always flown at the top of the pole. State and other flags always fly below Old Glory.
•When the American flag is displayed in print, the stars and the field should always appear on the left.
•The flag should never be allowed to touch the ground.
•All damaged flags should be burned or buried.
Holidayspot.com explains that the United States flag featuring 50 stars on the canton against the background of 13 stripes – seven red and six white – was enacted July, 4 1960 following the inclusion of Hawaii in the U.S.
From 1777 after the Stars and Stripes received the approval of the Continental Congress until June 14, 1960, there have been 27 changes to the flag.
Twenty-five of the changes resulted after additional states were admitted into the union.
The history of the observance of a national flag day is no less lengthy of a process.
The history of the event ranges from June 14, 1877, when the U.S. Congress observed the centennial of the birth of the Stars and Stripes through Aug. 3, 1949, when President Harry Truman designated national Flag Day.