The Vernal Elks Lodge held a special ceremony in honor of Flag Day on Friday, June 14th. The ceremony shared the history of the American Flag and involved the help of local Boy Scouts carrying out and displaying each flag as its history was shared by Elks Lodge members. From the Pine Tree Flag introduced in 1775 and carried by Continental forces in the Battle of Bunker Hill to the modern American flag with all 50 stars introduced in the 20th century, the local ceremony was held to respectfully honor the American flag and what it represents. The ceremony explained that the Elks Lodge is uniquely qualified to provide the Flag Day ceremony as the first and only fraternal body to require formal observance of Flag Day with annual nationwide observance on June 14th each year. The following was shared near the end of the ceremony: “Our Flag is at once a history, a declaration and a prophecy. It represents the American nation as it was at its birth; it speaks for what it is today; and it holds the opportunity for the future to add other stars to the glorious constellation.” Those in attendance joined in singing patriotic songs and showed reverence during the presentation and prayers.
