Elks Lodge continues long history of Flag Day traditions
Today is Flag Day, and a fraternal organization in Ames had a ceremony to observe the holiday earlier this week.
Members of the Ames Elks lodge have celebrated Flag Day for many years, and this year was no different, despite the coronavirus pandemic.
Traditionally, the local Elks observe Flag Day at Bandshell Park on the Thursday prior to the actual holiday, during the Ames Municipal Band’s evening concert. But this year, with those band concerts canceled due to the pandemic, the Elks held the ceremony in front of their lodge in downtown Ames.
Today is the actual Flag Day holiday.
With the assistance of Boy Scout Troop 196, the Elks’ ceremony presented several flags that demonstrated the evolution of the U.S. flag.
“The Scouts use our lodge for their meetings,” said Patrick Weigel, exalted ruler of Elks Lodge 1626 in Ames. “Since we are their sponsors, the Scouts assist us with this ceremony each year.”
This year, wearing masks and maintaining social distancing, the Scouts brought out each flag as it was discussed in the ceremony.
“It is always important to show our patriotism towards our country by the use of our flag,” said Mitch Dillavou, past exalted ruler of the Ames Elks, during the ceremony on Thursday.
The Benevolent and Protective Order of the Elks has honored Flag Day since 1907 – before it was even a national holiday.
It wasn’t until 1916 that President Woodrow Wilson issued a proclamation calling for a national observance of June 14 as Flag Day. In 1949, President Harry Truman signed a joint resolution of congress providing that Flag Day be proclaimed each year as a nationwide observance.
Bedford Flag — The oldest known flag in the United States. It was carried at the Battle of Concord on April 19, 1775, which was the first day of the American Revolution. That first flag still exists and is on display at the public library in Bedford, Mass.
Pennsylvania’s First Continental Regiment flag — With the motto “I Refuse to be Dominated,” the flag was carried during the revolution from Boston to Yorktown.
Pine Tree flag — In 1775, this flag was adopted for all colonial vessels, and the banner was carried by the continental forces in the Battle of Bunker Hill.
Bennington Flag — The oldest stars and stripes in existence, this flag was used by the Vermont militia at the Battle of Bennington on Aug. 16, 1777. It was the first stars and stripes to lead American armed forces on land.
Snake Flag — This flag was used by the Southern Colonies from 1776 to 1777.
Continental Congress flag — In 1775, the Continental Congress appointed a committee to create a single flag to represent the 13 colonies. That committee recommended a design with 13 alternating stripes of red and while with an azure field in the upper corner bearing the red cross of Saint George and white cross of Saint Andrew. John Paul Jones, the lieutenant of the flagship Alfred, hoisted this flat to the masthead on Dec. 3, 1775, and one month later it was raised over the headquarters of Gen. George Washington at Cambridge, Mass.
The Congress Colors — This flag is also known as “The Grand Union,” and was never carried in the field by the continental land forces, but it was used by the navy as its exclusive ensign. In response to a demand for a banner more representative of the U.S., on June 14, 1777, Congress declared the national flag would be 13 stripes of alternative red and white, and the Union would be represented by 13 white starts on a blue field, representing a new constellation.
Current U.S. flag — As more and more states were admitted to the Union, it became obvious that the flag would become cluttered if a star and a strip were added for each new state. Capt. Samuel Chester Reid found the solution, which is embodied in the third flag act, which was passed by Congress and signed by President James Monroe in 1818. It prescribed that the flag should consist of 13 horizontal stripes of alternating red and white, and the Union would be 20 stars, with a new star, but not a stripe, be added to the Union of the flag for each new state. This act still remains in effect today.