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Elks Assemble to Honor American Flag

Retired Army Col. James Nemec salutes the American Flag, held up to the crowd by Esteemed Leading Knight Kevin Luke during the Flag Day Ceremony conducted by the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks Lodge #203 in Kittanning.

by David Croyle

The local Lodge #203 of the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks in Kittanning held their annual observance of Flag Day last night.

The ceremony was held on the west porch of the facility; however, North Water Street was closed to allow members to sit in chairs positioned on the street. Meanwhile, more than a hundred people used Kittanning Riverfront Park directly across from the Elks building to stand or sit in the grass.

Although there was a solemn and reverent tone, the ceremony also carried an air of celebration as the meaning of the American Flag was unfolded by each segment.

Tom Pivarnik of Pittsburgh, Gracy Charney of Ford City, and Korean veteran Leo Kijowski of Ford City sit with their personal American Flags during the ceremony last night at the Elks in Kittanning.

Esteemed Leading Knight Kevin Luke lead the ceremony in the absence of Exalted Ruler Joe Avi. He pointed out the importance of the annual observance of Flag Day.

“The Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks is the first and only fraternal body to require formal observance of Flag Day. In July 1908, the Grand Lodge of this Order at Dallas, Texas, as assembled, provided for the first annual nationwide observance of Flag Day on the fourteenth of June each year by making it mandatory by each subordinate lodge of the Order. This unique distinction as the strongest promoter of Flag Day is most becoming to the Order of Elks. This Order is distinctly American. Only American citizens are eligible to join it and it has no foreign affiliation. It has linked its destiny with the destiny of this country, and made this flag its symbol of self dedication to God, to country, and to fellow man.”

Retired Army Colonel James Nemec presented the Keynote Address.

Members of Boys Scouts Troop 676 in Manor Township present the various types of flags that were used during our nation’s history. The Scouts included: Dennis Peters, Spencer Franklin, Michael Quartz, Dillon Dosch, Donavyn Klingensmith, Seamus Gross, and Alex Peat

“We’re nestled here in Kittanning, relatively safe because of people like Chief Matthews and his police department, the fire companies that risk their lives to run in and save our structures and human beings, because of first responders who put us on gurneys and come out in the middle of the night and save our lives. (However) We are in a situation where our country is challenged, and even though it seems quiet here, you all know - you watch TV, you listen to the radio, and you hear what’s going on around the world. And it is no longer around the world, as Chief Matthews will tell you, and as we have seen many times, it’s coming to a hamlet near you, be it at Fort Hood, or San Bernardino, California, or Orlando, Florida. We have to be vigilant. I don’t want to see that flag at half-staff. The only time I want to see it at half-staff is when we pay tribute to brave warriors who have served their lives defending this country - not because we had some mentality that wants to take us down!”

Hundreds lined the street and brought chairs to sit in Kittanning Riverfront Park for last night’s Flag Day Ceremony.

The Kittanning Firemen’s Band open with the National Anthem, and played several other songs throughout the course of the ceremony.

Kittanning Hose Company #1 hoisted the large American Flag from on top of its ladder truck that was parked across North Water Street, creating a barrier between the festivities and the paving work being done on Market Street.

A very moving moment of the ceremony came as the crowd began to sing “God Bless America” without any instrumental accompaniment.

Nemec also pointed out the importance of teaching our youth to honor and respect the American Flag.

“When somebody wants to tear down the Pledge of Allegiance, you tell them that’s not what happens. That’s how we get patriots. I looked today, because I have been shocked, at the number of schools that don’t do the Pledge of Allegiance. In half the states, it’s not mandatory that the public schools have a Pledge of Allegiance. My gosh! We’re asleep at the wheel!!!”

Luke concluded the ceremony with a very fitting call to action.

“We must dedicate our lives to the principles to which our flag stands: One nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.”