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BRAZIL ELKS HOST FLAG DAY CEREMONY
Amid a warm Thursday evening on June 14, dozens gathered at the Brazil Elks Lodge on South Sherfey street to celebrate the 241st anniversary of Flag Day and hear from a local service member.
Brigadier General Kip Clark, of Center Point, spoke to about 40 people about the importance of Flag Day and celebrating what all our flag means.
General Clark shared the story of “meeting” 4 American flags throughout his life and how each has impacted his life. The original “Star Spangled Banner” now housed in the Smithsonian, once flew over Fort McHenry in Maryland in 1814. The next morning, the banner yet-waved as Fort McHenry had not been overrun by the British.
General Clark spoke of the hope that this flag gave to our country.
Clark talked about a flag housed at the Indiana War Memorial in Indianapolis. One that was carried in the Battle of Gettysburg by the 14th Indiana Volunteer Infantry Regiment. Though it is tattered by bullet holes, it carries a message of unity that our divided country needed.
A few years ago, Clark and his wife had the opportunity to visit the cemetery at Normandy and to lower the two American flags at sunset.
These flags, according to Clark, shared a sense of sacrifice for all who had died to give Americans and the world, freedom.
Lastly, Clark spoke of the flag that draped a friend’s casket during his funeral. This flag, was a sign of selflessness as his friend had always given to others.
Hope, Unity, Sacrifice, and Selflessness are some of the words that came to General Clark as he spoke about the American flag; but most of all it was the sense of Freedom that most describe our flag.
Jared Bond, Exalted Ruler of Brazil Elks, emceed the event and spoke of the Elks’ long involvement in a Flag Day ceremony. Quoting the Bible, Bond alluded to 2 Corinthians 3:17 “”Where the Lord is, there is Liberty.”
The same can be said for our American Flag.
Members of Brazil American Legion Post #2 served as the Honor Guard.
Members of Greencastle Elks Lodge #1077 also participated in the program.
