Charles City honors the U.S. flag at Elks Lodge ceremony
Charles City high school student Nathan Shultz leads the group in "The Star-Spangled Banner" during the Elks Lodge ceremony celebrating Flag Day on Sunday. Press photo by Bob Steenson
Bruce Hovden, Charles City Elks Lodge past exalted ruler and chaplain, says a prayer as part of the Elks Flag Day ceremony Sunday. Press photo by Bob Steenson
About 30 people attend the Charles City Elks Lodge Flag Day ceremony Sunday afternoon. Press photo by Bob Steenson
Charles City Mayor Dean Andrews reads the city proclamation of Flag Day Sunday afternoon at the Elks Lodge Flag Day ceremony. Press photo by Bob Steenson
Jessica Schwickerath, esteemed lecturing knight with the Charles City Elks Lodge, reads part of the program Sunday afternoon at the Elks Flag Day ceremony. Press photo by Bob Steenson
About 30 people attend the Charles City Elks Lodge Flag Day ceremony Sunday afternoon. Press photo by Bob Steenson
Jessica Schwickerath, esteemed lecturing knight with the Charles City Elks Lodge, (at the podium) reads part of the program Sunday afternoon at the Elks Flag Day ceremony. Press photo by Bob Steenson
Charles City Elks Lodge member Lyle Western plays taps at the end of the Elks Flag Day ceremony Sunday. Press photo by Bob Steenson
By Bob Steenson, bsteenson@charlescitypress.com
The Stars and Stripes flapped brightly under a cloud-streaked blue sky Sunday afternoon as about 30 Charles City Elks Lodge members and others from the community gathered to pay tribute on Flag Day.
The ceremony included a reading of the official city proclamation by Mayor Dean Andrews exhorting “all citizens to renew our allegiance to our flag,” Charles City High School student Nathan Shultz leading “The Star-Spangled Banner” and lodge member Lyle Western concluding the event with the playing of taps.
Elks officers conducted the ceremony, including Exalted Ruler Steve Mills, Chaplain and Past Exalted Ruler Bruce Hovden and Esteemed Lecturing Knight Jessica Schwickerath. Chairs for those attending were spaced out around the flagpole to meet social distancing guidelines.
The Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks says it was the first group nationally to recognize and celebrate a day for the American Flag, and for many years it lobbied to get the U.S. government to proclaim an official flag day.
In 1916, President Woodrow Wilson issued a proclamation that officially established Flag Day on June 14, the anniversary of the adoption of the flag of the United States on June 14, 1777, by the Second Continental Congress.
On Aug. 3, 1949, National Flag Day was established by an Act of Congress under the leadership of President Harry S. Truman, himself an Elk.
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