The Devils Lake Elks Lodge hosted its annual Flag Day Program at Roosevelt Park on Sunday, June 14th. The Lodge Officers, along with The VFW Color Guard, Kem Shrine Flag Corps, 4th Degree Knights of Columbus, VFW Auxiliary, Devils Lake Scouts and the Devils Lake Elks Community Band participated in the ceremony.
The Elks reverence for the American Flag was formally established in 1908 when the Elks Grand Lodge designated June 14 as Flag Day. The tradition gained national recognition in 1916 when President Woodrow Wilson proclaimed it a day of celebration. The Elks is the only organization in the U.S. required to hold a Flag Day Ceremony as part of its by-laws. Each lodge holds its own ceremony.
The Devils Lake Elks Community Band performed several patriotic songs including The Battle Hymn of the Republic and Stars and Stripes Forever. The Elks Lodge Officers, under the direction of Exalted Ruler Lisa Uhlenkamp, presented this history of the Flag from the Pine Tree Flag to the Snake Flag and several others leading up to the current 50 stars and 13 stripes flag that’s been in use for more than 75 years.
The Elks presented awards for the annual Americanism Essay Contests. Cash awards and American Flags were presented. Winners were presented with awards, earlier this spring at Central Middle School. Winners were presented their cash awards and American Flag at the Flag Day Ceremony on Sunday. Each winner’s American Flag was flown over the U.S. Capitol this spring.
Each year, The Elks invites middle school boys and girls – grades 5-8 to write an essay, up to 300 words. This years topic: “What Does Service to Your Country Mean to You?” Essays are submitted and judged on creativity, grammar and original thought. The committee was lead by Kathy Lovseth and several other volunteers.