Bristol Elks celebrate the Stars and Stripes
TAdvance Correspondent “God Bless America, Land that I love. Stand beside her, and guide her Thru the night with a light from above.” he Bristol Elks #9T0 held their annual clag Day Ceremony in iions mark gune 9I as they have on the second punday of gune since 190UK This distinctively American organization is dedicated to patriotic service and proudly seeks to promote the proper knowledge ofI and respect forI the American clag as an ensign of freedomI liberty and opportunityK The Benevolent and mrotective Order of Elks performs this duty in many ways but the most effective of its prescribed activities is with its clag Day perviceK Each Elks iodge is required to conduct this annual ritual to kick off National clag WeekK
National clag Week celebrates the anniversary of the birth of our nation’s beloved clothI emblematic of the crowning virtue of charity and justice and the symbol of EURWKHUOy ORvH DnG fiGHOLWy. ,n 1916, PUHsLGHnW WRRGURw WLOsRn LssuHG D SURFODPDWLRn RffiFLDOOy HsWDEOLsKLnJ -unH 14 as clag DayK The observance was signed into law by mresident earry pK TrumanI and established by an Act of Congresss in AugustI 1949K Truman himself was an ElkK
All those in attendance punday respectfully listened to the history of Old dloryI its real meaning and majestyK Trustee Edward eeacock began the ceremoniesI which included the singing of the National AnthemI and recitation of the mledge of AllegianceK There was just enough EUHHzH WR PDNH WKH flDJs uSRn WKH FHnWuUy-ROG GUunGy CRPPRns FORFN WRwHU flDS DSSURSULDWHOy fRU WKH FHUemony belowK
Red symbolizes hardiness and valor; white symbolizes purity and innocence; and blue represents vigilance, perseverance and justice.
Elks ChaplainI hristie daynorI expressed the hope that “this service brings to each of us a sense of loyalty to our country and enables us to be better patriotsI truer citizens and more loyal AmericansK”
Exalted Ruler Cindy Ann hempffI mER asked that the assembled crowd recall the achievements attained EHnHDWK WKH fROGs Rn WKH DnnLvHUsDUy Rf RuU flDJ’s ELUWK. EsWHHPHG LHDGLnJ .nLJKW, 0HJDn E. 0FAOHHU FRnfiUPHG that the fraternal aim of BKmKOKEK is to inculcate the principles of CharityI gusticeI Brotherly iove and cidelityK
jany people long ago stood and fought for a future they would never be part ofI they fought for a freedom that they would never themselves enjoyK They fought and died for peaceK creedom does not come without responsibility and our freedom did not come for a small priceK meople lost their homes and their families and gave their very lives to make way for a future they could only imagineK
FURP WKH sDnGs Rf ,wR -LPD Ln WRUOG WDU ,, WR WKH sDnGs Rf FDOOuMDK, ,UDT, WKH APHULFDn FRORUs KDvH sHHn plenty of action over the yearsK
PA SWDWH SHnDWRU, RREHUW 0. “7RPPy” 7RPOLnsRn [R-6] felt privileged to be asked to speakK ee sincerely acknowledged all the hard work put into creating and then rehearsing for the ceremonyK
“clag Day truly represents what this country is aboutI” 7RPOLnsRn sDLG. “,W FRPPHPRUDWHs WKRsH wKR fRuJKW fRU WKLs FRunWUy, fRuJKW fRU WKLs flDJ. WH KDvH WUuOy EHHn blessed being in the greatest country in the history of the worldI not just the greatest country in the worldK”
The jayorI pergeant Robert AK ieboI has served the community and lived a patchwork of various experiences and careersI including one as a soldierI serving in 9LHWnDP Ln 1969 DnG 1970. HH HDUnHG WKH GRRG CRnGuFW medal for his 2 ½ years of service and achievements during his “expedition” into poutheast Asia in the 199th ,nfDnWUy BULJDGH. ieboI short on show and long on substanceI said it bestK “,’P KRnRUHG WR EH Dn APHULFDn,” LHER sDLG. “,’P short and sweet and to the pointK”
meople rose from their lawn chairsK dentlemen removed their hats with their right hand and held it at the left sKRuOGHU, WKH KDnG EHLnJ RvHU WKH KHDUW Ds WKH flDJ wDs KRLsWHG. 2uU flDJ wDvHG Ds WKH EDnnHU Rf OLEHUWy, fUHHGRP and enlightenmentK
,W DOwDys JLvHs PH FKLOOs. ,W sWLOO GRHs. AUH wH SURuG WR be Americans? We should be humbled to be AmericansK ,f wH GR nRW WDNH FDUH Rf RuUsHOvHs, wH sLOHnWOy JLvH SHUmission to someone else to make decisions for usK
0DNH LW D TuHsW WR Euy APHULFDn flDJs PDGH Ey APHULcans in the rpAK
7KH flDJ syPEROLzHs WKH EORRG, swHDW, DnG WHDUs Rf American men and women who brought this country into existenceI not our indebtedness to China and the foreboding death of the American manufacturing sectorK We are the land of the freeI BECArpE of the brave! “From the mountains, to the prairies, To the oceans, white with foam God bless America, My home sweet home.”