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Monday • June 16, 2014
The Kittanning Paper
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Kittanning Celebrates American Flag’s Symbolism
by Jonathan Weaver
Saturday marked the 98th ‘Flag
Day’ celebrated, and the local
Benevolent Protective Order of
Elks honored the national holiday
with an annual ceremony.
Lodge #203 – which has
about 1,100 members – held its
ceremony Thursday inside their
North Water Street location
rather than outside as usual due
to the threat of rain.
Lodge Esquire Kevin Luke
of Kittanning – a member for
24 years, but part of his first
ceremony in his current officegave the history of the various
flags
presented
throughout
history – starting with the Pine
Tree Flag in 1775 and the Snake
Flag before a committee chose to
symbolize a new identify.
“The evolution of the American
Flag marks the progression of
the government of the American
people,” Luke said. “In the latter
part of 1775, the Continental
Congress appointed a committee
to consider the question for a
single flag for the 13 colonies.
That committee recommended a
design of 13 alternating stripes
of red and white, with a filled
upper corner with a cross of St.
George and a white cross of St.
Andrew.”
That first American flag not
recognizing England was not
carried into battle, but was the
first to receive a salute of honor
of 11 guns.
A committee commissioned
Philadelphia Quakress Betsy Ross
soon after, and she recommended
to add the stars to better represent
the country. It was first saluted in
February 1778.
There has been no change to the
flag design -except for more stars
after states were added - since
1818. The last star was added
when Hawaii was named a state
in 1959.
Boy Scout Troop #676 Patrol
Leader Alex Peat of Templeton
was one of the seven scouts that
presented the flags after being led
in by Senior Patrol Leader Greg
Kircheis. Both are Life Scouts
close to achieving the rank of
Eagle Scout.
The scout troop has participated
at least for six years - when
Wayne McHaddon was named
scoutmaster
of
the
Ford
City troop. All of those who
participated Thursday received
community service hours.
The flag colors have their
own meaning as well – red to
symbolize bloodshed in the
country’s defense, white of hope
and blue of peace.
The Kittanning Firemen’s Band
honored this history with the
playing of “The Star-Spangled
Banner” and “The Armed Forces
Salute.” 20-month-old Lucas
Miller, son of Firemen’s Band
Tuba Player Mike Miller and
Lexi Miller, danced along to the
music as perhaps the youngest of
the 30-some participants at the
ceremony.
But, Exalted Ruler Deborah
Kline read that there is no
answer to what the flag means to
Americans.
“There can never be a definitive
answer to that question. There are
people in this world that see it as
a symbol of imperialism; others
see it as a destiny of the people,”
Kline read. “But, reference to
these and similar views of the
flag were resolved by Woodrow
Wilson when he said, “This flag,
which we honor and under which
we serve, is the emblem of our
unity, our power, our thought and
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State Representative Jeff Pyle
was the guest speaker to the annual
event.
Also, in honor of ‘Flag Day,’ the
eight-story Balcony Towers on
South McKean Street showcased
dozens of American flags along
the balcony railing. H.R. “Dick”
McGrath – the “Custodian of the
Flags” –has displayed the stars
and stripes at the apartments each
‘Flag Day’ since 1988.
Boy Scout Troop #676 Patrol Leader Alex Peat of Templeton (second
from left) was one of the seven scouts that presented the flags during the
Kittanning Elks annual ‘Flag Day’ ceremony last week. He was led in by
Senior Patrol Leader Greg Kircheis. Both are Life Scouts close to achieving
the rank of Eagle Scout.
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shape of this nation. It is no other
character than that which we give
it from generation to generation.
The choices are ours.”
Community patriots – including
those veterans from the MechlingShakley Veterans Center in
Cowansville - sang the first verse
of “God Bless America” – the
current version written in 1938 as well as recited the “Pledge of
Allegiance.” – written in 1892
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