East Brunswick Elks Celebrate a Memorable Flag Day
East Brunswick Elk Lodge 2370 celebrated a memorable Flag Day June 14, 2010 with the assistance of East Brunswick Boy Scout Troop 223 and Girl Scout Troop 81142. In addition to opening its doors to the community, it was special this year with both Scout troops carrying a procession of our Nation’s flags throughout inception to the present day Flag, to the Flag retirement ceremony, as done in modern time.
Troop 223 Presents the American Flag for Retirement
In 1775, Congressman Francis Hopkinson designed the first American Flag and Betsy Ross was its seamstress. On June 14, 1777, the Continental Congress passed an Act to establish an official Flag for our new nation. The resolution ordered, “... the Flag of the United States be thirteen stripes, alternate red and white; and the union be thirteen stars, white in a field of blue, representing a new constellation.” Between 1777 and 1960, Congress passed several acts changing the shape, design and arrangement of the Flag and allowed for additional stars and stripes to reflect the admission of each new state. Today, our Flag consists of thirteen horizontal stripes, seven red alternating with six white. The stripes represent the original thirteen colonies; the stars represent the fifty states of the Union. The colors of the Flag are symbolic as well; red symbolizes Hardiness and Valor; White symbolizes Purity and Innocence and Blue represents Vigilance, Perseverance and Justice.
The Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks take the American Flag as a symbol of Unity and Patriotism. In 1908, at the Grand Lodge session in Dallas, the Elks unanimously adopted the Flag Day Ritual currently in use today. In 1911, at the Atlantic City session, it is obligatory for all subordinate Lodges to observe Flag Day with appropriate ceremonies, as celebrated each June 14.
The Flag retirement ceremony entails ceremoniously placing every damaged American flag received at Elk drop off locations by fire and burying the ashes.