Flag Day ceremony

Fairfield Elks Lodge 1192 members Debbi Davis, Doug Bagby and Ryan Kurka continued the Elks Flag Day Ceremony tradition with Jefferson County Veterans Affairs Director Ray Chambers and local Boy Scouts June 14 at the Veterans? Memorial on the courthouse lawn. Participating Boy Scouts were: Christopher Kyle, James Kyle, Brandon Francisco, Austin Francisco, Ronan Malloy, Finnegan Malloy, Austin Shelby, Caleb Rankin, TJ Rankin and leader Dean Rankin. Davis explained patriotism has characterized the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks of the United States of America since the early days of the organization. Allegiance to the country?s flag is a requirement for every member. In 1907, the Elks Grand Lodge designated by resolution, making it mandatory upon each subordinate lodge of the order, the annual nationwide observance of Flag Day on June 14. The Grand Lodge of the Order adopted mandatory observance of the occasion by every lodge in 1911, and that requirement continues. The Elks prompted President Woodrow Wilson to recognize the Order?s observance of Flag Day for its patriotic expression, but it wasn?t until 1949 when President Harry Truman, himself a member of the Elks, made the proclamation that thereafter June 14 would be a day of national observance for the symbol of the country. The unique distinction as the strongest promoter of Flag Day is most becoming to the Order of Elks. The Order is distinctively American. Only American citizens are eligible to join, and it has no foreign affiliations. It has linked its destiny with the destiny of the country and made the flag its symbol of self-dedication to God, to country and to fellow men.