Maine Elks Association

Public Relations Committee Newsbriefs -06/18/09

Maine Elks Association Newsbriefs

Maine Elks Association Honors American Flag



On June 14, 2007, members and officers of the Maine Elks Association (MEA) held their annual Flag Day service at the Togus V.A. Medical Center in Augusta. The service commemorated the 232nd anniversary of the adoption of the “Stars and Stripes.” The ceremony was held on behalf of veterans at the hospital, which was broadcast on the VA center's closed-circuit television system.

The ceremony was opened by Dwayne Guy of the Rockland Elks Lodge, serving as Master of Ceremonies. He introduced State President Michael Powers of the Houlton Elks Lodge, who, along with fellow officers performed the introductory exercises for the event. A history of the American Flag was then presented by Past State President Robert Drisko of the Augusta Elks Lodge.

During the reading of the Flag’s history, Exalted Ruler’s from several of Maine’s twenty-two Lodges presented each flag while accompanied by music provided by John Plummer of the Augusta Elks Lodge. Flags that were presented included the Pine Tree Flag of 1775, the Snake Flag of 1776-1777, a Flag bearing the red cross of St. George and the White Cross of St. Andrew of 1775, the Grand Union Flag of 1777, the Fort McHenry Flag of 1812, the 20-star Flag of 1818, the 48-star Flag, and today’s 50-star Flag, accompanied by the POW-MIA Flag, remembering those who have served their country and were either held prisoner or are still missing in action.

Following the presentation of the Flags, a response was given by Roger Sicard, Past Grand Inner Guard, and Secretary of the Biddeford-Saco Elks Lodge. In his response, Sicard paid tribute to the men and women who had fought to protect our nation’s Flag; from the Revolutionary War to the Wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, Sicard also gave recognition to the sacrifices made by so many of the hospital’s veterans throughout the years.

Following the response, an inspirational reading was given by MEA 1st Vice-President Wayne Cotterly of the Lewiston Elks Lodge. Cotterly read portions of a stirring speech given by U.S. Senator John McCain at the Republican National Convention in 1988. McCain’s speech referenced a fellow prisoner of war, Mike Christian, who had created a makeshift American Flag, and who had sewn it to the inside of his shirt. The shirt would be hung in the cell at meal time, to which the prisoners would recite the Pledge of Allegiance. One day, the North Vietnamese had searched the cell, and found the flag sewn inside the shirt. Christian, who had created the flag was subsequently beaten severely, but upon his return to the cell, though badly injured, had begun creating a new flag. “He was not making that flag because it made Mike Christian feel better. He was making that flag because he knew how important it was for us to be able to pledge our allegiance to our flag and our country,” said McCain.  To remind those in attendance of the importance of the principals for which the Flag stands. The Pledge of Allegiance was then recited by those in attendance.

Following this, MEA 2nd Vice-President John Nicholson of the Millinocket Elks Lodge read a piece called "Hello, Remember Me?" an essay depicting the Flag's point of view toward Americanism today. Cotterly the read a description of the meaning behind each of the folds of the flag, and Nicholson read a poem entitled "A Soldier Died Today." The service concluded with a singing of "God Bless America."

At the conclusion of the event, MEA State President Powers and several of the officers and members traveled directly to the veterans rooms in the hospital, and presented them with small American Flags to commemorate the day.

Each year, Flag Day is celebrated to commemorate the adoption of the Stars and Stripes by the Second Continental Congress on June 14, 1777. This observance was made official in 1916 by President Woodrow Wilson, who declared the date as National Flag Day. In 1949, President Harry Truman signed an Act of Congress proclaiming that the Flag of the United States would be displayed on all government buildings on June 14^th, and asked that the American people join in the observance of the Flag’s anniversary.

Pictured above (Left) are L-R: James York, Dwayne Guy, John Nicholson, Michael Powers, Wayne Cotterly, Robert Drisko, and Roger Sicard.

Lewiston Elks Celebrate Flag Day



On June 14, 2009, the Lewiston Elks Lodge #371 held its annual Flag Day services. Over one hundred people attended the event, including Veteran groups, Firefighters, Civil Air Patrol, Cub Scouts, and several area government officials. The services marked the 232nd anniversary of the adoption of the stars and stripes.

The event began with a welcome by Exalted Ruler (Lodge President) Michael Aube of Auburn and introductory exercises conducted by the officers of the Lodge. Following the opening ceremonies, a history of the Flag was read by Past Exalted Ruler Wayne Cotterly of Poland Spring. Cotterly described each of the nation's historic flags, as each one was presented by members of the Cub Scout Pack 187 and the Civil Air Patrol. The current American Flag was presented alongside the POW/MIA Flag, and was escorted by the Color Guard of the Lewiston Fire Department. Following this, a response was then given by Lodge Inner Guard Belinda Ashworth of Lewiston, noting the sacrifices made by the men and women of the nation's armed services and emergency response personnel.

Several presentations were made by government officials and representatives. Letters were read by field representatives of Senator's Olympia Snowe and Susan Collins, as well as from Congresswoman Pingree. Each letter read; expressed the significance of Flag Day, and reminded everyone of the sacrifices made by our military personnel both in the present and in the past.

Mayor Laurent Gilbert of the City of Lewiston and Mayor John Jenkins of the City of Auburn also both spoke about the importance of celebrating the birth of our nation's flag and the Pledge of Allegiance.

Following the presentations, several flags were presented for retirement, and a new POW/MIA Flag was raised by members of the Vietnam Veterans of the USA at the front of the Lodge building. The Vietnam Veterans concluded the event with a "Missing Man" ceremony, during which a dinner table was set with several items, providing symbolic remembrance of those who remain missing in action.

Pictured above are: (L-R): James Pineau-Field Representative from Congresswoman Pingree's office, David Heidrich- Field Representative from Senator Collin's office, Karen Stapes-Field Representative from Senator Snowe's office, Michael Aube-Lewiston Elks Exalted Ruler, Lewiston Mayor Laurent Gilbert, and Auburn Mayor John Jenkins.

Skowhegan-Madison Elks Celebrate Flag Day



Seven Skowhegan Area High School National Honor Society members and a vocalist from Madison Junior High School assisted the Skowhegan-Madison Elks with the fraternal organization’s annual Flag Day ceremony Sunday night.  Pictured (left to right) are Devin Withee, Jordan Taylor, Taylor Richardson, Brad Richardson, vocalist Kristen Bishop, Camden Dionne, Jake Sylvain and Brooke Johnson. (Mike Lange photo)

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