Elks celebrate Flag Day

THOMPSON FALLS- The Elks Lodge in Thompson Falls held their annual Flag Day celebrations on Saturday in commemoration of the adoption of the United States flag on June 14, 1777.

With a combination of pride and patriotism, members and guests participated in a ceremonial burning of old, faded and worn flags. According to American Legion Post Commander Ron Hawkinson, about 75 flags were retired.

“We retire flags that are worn or faded. We do it respectfully by burning. The flags come from the public and we do this on Flag Day,” said Hawkinson.

According to the United States Flag Code, respectful incineration is the preferred means to dispose of flags that are deemed no longer fit to serve as a symbol of the country. American Legion posts across the country regularly conduct dignified flag-burning ceremonies usually on Flag Day.

Following the flag retirement, Elks and guests paid tribute to the families of currently serving members of the U.S. Armed Forces with a “blue star” ceremony. Mothers, fathers and grandparents were presented with a service flag with a blue star denoting the number of family members currently serving in the military.

Family members display the flag that is a white field with a red border in their homes. The practice dates back to the first World War and was standardized by the end of the second World War.

Hawkinson presented five families with blue star flags with one having two stars indicating two members of the family were serving in the military. The flags are intended for display in a window of a residence of immediate family members that have an individual serving in the U.S. military during any period of war or hostilities.

The blue star flag was designed in 1917 by U.S. Army Captain Robert L. Queisser to honor his two sons who were serving in World War I. It was quickly adopted by the public and government officials. The flag was first officially recognized by the Governor of Ohio on September 24, 1917.