CORONAVIRUS (COVID-19) RESOURCE CENTER Read More
Add To Favorites

Honoring the flag and the veterans who have protected it

The Hawk Eye - 6/11/2017

June 11--Sandwiched between Armed Forces Day, Memorial Day and Independence Day, Flag Day is often neglected when it comes to official remembrance ceremonies.

Despite a proclamation signed by President Woodrow Wilson in 1916 to recognize Flag Day -- which always is celebrated June 14 -- it isn't even a federal holiday.

The Elks never forget, though. It's their duty to have a Flag Day ceremony every year close to the actual holiday, which will be Wednesday. It commemorates the adoption of the flag of the United States, which happened on June 14, 1777. The Elks have been celebrating Flag Day since 1907.

"Every lodge in the United States has to do this," said Dana Johnston, past exalted ruler of Elks Lodge No. 84 in Burlington.

Much like last year, the Elks Lodge teamed up with the Mississippi Valley Veterans Memorial committee to host an annual Flag Day service Saturday morning. Unlike last year, this year's service was held in front of the actual Mississippi Valley Veterans Memorial.

Sitting west of the Burlington Regional RecPlex, the black granite structure consists of six panels portraying each branch of the military, as well as the U.S. Coast Guard and the Merchant Marines. The back of those panels are etched with names of more than 2,000 veterans dating back to the Civil War, and they don't have to be local names to be on the monument.

Ten-foot-tall American flags lined the sidewalk leading to the memorial, rippling loudly in a stiff wind that threatened to carry away the notes of the speakers. More flags were posted and later retired by the Hamilton-Walters Marine CorpsLeague Detachment 616, as well as the Burlington Area Veterans Council Honor Guard. The Marine Corps League handled the 21-gun salute.

"To have the firing squad honoring all those who have fallen, as a veteran, it has a lot of significance," said Kurt Wooldridge -- an Elks member and committee member for the MVVM.

Wooldridge served as a helicopter mechanic with the Navy during Operation Desert Storm, and couldn't have been prouder to be one of the organizers of Saturday's ceremony.

"It's just nice to have community involvement, and be able to work with other organizations to make this happen," Wooldridge said.

Col. Gregory T. Poland, a Burlington native who served in the Marine Corps during Desert Storm, was the featured speaker, taking the podium after members of the Elks Lodge spoke of the history and importance of Flag Day. Poland graduated from Burlington High School in 1987 alongside Burlington mayor Shane McCampbell, who was in attendance. Rep. Dennis Cohoon also wasin attendance, as well as Iowa Elks State President Jeff Koontz.

"I don't know if any teacher we had in high school would have thought you and I would end up where we are today," Poland said, directing his comments toward McCampbell. "So we fooled them, but we probably ought to thank them for keeping us going in the right direction."

After the light introduction, Poland went on to praise those who protect the American flag through their military service.

"The Mississippi Valley is no stranger to those who have raised their hand to serve, and the monument behind me is a visible testimony to the sacrifice of so many from our small corner of the globe," Poland said. "For me, coming from smaller towns like ours makes the connection of service even more personal. If we don't know a guy or girl personally that's in service, we often at least know of them, and we know they were from our town."

Poland specifically mentioned Burlington native and astronaut Jim Kelly, who served his country as an Air Force fighter and test pilot. Poland's older brother graduated from BHS with Kelly in 1982, and Poland took swimming lessons from Kelly.

"We weren't close, but trust me, on the day he lifted off into space to command the space shuttle, I was a very proud Burlington man, and we were very close that day," Poland said.

Before Poland spoke, Elks Club members took turns reciting the history and significance of Flag Day, tracing it from the Pine Tree flag flown by colonial vessels in 1775 to the 50 stars decorating it today.

Flag Day grew from the efforts of a young schoolteacher named Bernard J. Cigrand. After lobbying lawmakers for 31 years, President Woodrow Wilson issued a proclamation in 1916 announcing a national observance each June 14 of Flag Day.

The day was memorialized as National Flag Day by an act of Congress and signed into law by President Harry Truman in 1949.

"We have to remember that it is the flag of the United States that we salute, that we defend, that we fight for and rally around. It's the flag that performs the most scared duty of all, when it covers the coffin of a fallen hero, and it is folded and handed to a grieving loved one with the thanks of a grateful nation," Poland said.

World War II veteran and longtime Burlington resident Jerry Smith donated $1,000 to the memorial committee before the service began, and is well known for his contributions to Hope Haven and other causes in the community.

"It (the memorial) is fabulous. It's a beautiful structure representing people who served their country," he said.

___

(c)2017 The Hawk Eye (Burlington, Iowa)

Visit The Hawk Eye (Burlington, Iowa) at www.thehawkeye.com

Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.