Lions Club Presents Flags to First Grade
Author: Bob Brastrup, Townsend Lions Club
Lions Club Presents Flags to First Grade Bob Brastrup, Townsend Lions Club Sixty-five first-grade students were presented American Flags and flag magnets by the Broadwater County Lions club at a recent ceremony. Committee chair Richard Heida said having all the first-grade classes in one location made it one of the best presentations since he became the committee chair. Previously a presentation was made in each classroom.
Legend has it that Betsy Ross sewed the first flag. The thirteen stripes and thirteen stars design was adopted by congress in 1777. The design has been modified twenty-seven times since then because a star is added each time a state is admitted to the United States. This has resulted in arrangements looking like a star, a circle, and other arrangements in the field of blue. The flag has always had thirteen alternating red and white stripes to signify the original thirteen colonies.
The red color represents hardiness and valor, white symbolizes purity and innocence, and blue represents vigilance, perseverance and justice.
The current flag design is the only one to have lasted more than 50 years. In 1958 a contest was held for a new design when Alaska and Hawaii were brought into the United States. President Eisenhower chose the design from more than 1,500 entries. A 17-year-old high school student, Robert G. Heft, of Lancaster, Ohio submitted the winning entry.
American Legion members Jennifer Dalrymple and Linda Cousineau assisted with a demonstration on how to fold the flag, and discussions about how to retire the flag when it is worn out. The students were also told what it means when a flag is flown at half-staff or upside down. They asked questions about whether a flag can be washed if it becomes dirty (it can) and if the flag can be flown at night.
One of the more interesting facts about the flag is that five American Flags have been planted on the moon by astronauts.
At the conclusion of the program, the students gave a stirring rendition of “The Grand Old Flag”.
Lion members Kevin Reed and Bob and Sheri Brastrup also assisted with the program.
Article Images
Click on Image Thumbnail(s) to view fullsize image
PhotoCredit: Bob Bastrup
Image 1 Caption: left to right Lakota Lawson. Richard Heida, Gus Van Duin
Image 2 Caption: Linda Cousineau, Sheri Brastrup, Richard Heida and the first grade students
