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The Putnam Lodge of Elks  574 Flag Day Ceremony June 13. More photos on page 5. Linda Lemmon photo.


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Flags
Above: The Antlers stand honoring the history of the American flag around the flagpole at Veterans Park in Putnam. Right: Dignified retirement of old flags. Linda Lemmon photos.



By Linda Lemmon
Town Crier Editor
PUTNAM — As is their tradition and high honor, the Putnam Lodge of Elks 574 June 13 honored the American flag at the Veterans Park on Bridge Street.
In full regalia and step by solemn step, members of the Elks and guests ceremoniously recounted the history of the American flag from its beginning as the “Pine Tree” flag in 1775, through the flag’s variations during the American Revolution and then through the years to the present day with 13 red and white stripes and 50 stars, representing each state, on a field of blue. As each was described, young members of the Elks’ Antlers division solemnly placed each version of the American flag until the semicircle around the flag pole was filled with American history with flags.
Elks Exalted Ruled Jim Eccleston described the Elks’ special connection to Flag Day, saying that in 1907 the Grand Lodge of the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, in a resolution, designated June 14 as Flag Day and called for mandatory observance of the occasion by every lodge in 1911. In 1949 Flag Day was made official by President Harry Truman, a member of the Elks.
The flag’s colors are symbolic: Red symbolizes hardiness and valor; white symbolizes purity and innocence and blue represents vigilance, perseverance and justice.
Veteran Fred Ruhlemann, president of the Danielson Veterans Coffeehouse, said “upon its folds is written the story of America.” The stars represented a new constellation in the west. He recounted how in each war and conflict, the flag — America — was “repurchased.”

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