Boy Scout Troop 676 from Appleby Manor Church presents historical flags during last night’s Flag Day Ceremony at the Elks Lodge in Kittanning. Scouts include: (L-R) Dennis Peters, Michael Quartz, Donavyn Klingensmith, Dillon Dosch, Kyle Luke, and Sam Luke. Troop Leaders not pictured are Reese Klingensmith and Mark Quartz.
The sun was out and the weather was perfect as the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks (B.P.O.E.) Lodge #203 celebrated Flag Day with a ceremony in downtown Kittanning.
The Kittanning Firemen’s Band kicked off the event with The Star Spangled Banner under the direction of Drew Fennel.
Elks Exalted Ruler Kevin Luke welcomed the crowd and led the Pledge of Allegiance before introducing the guest speaker, retired General James R. Hendrickson.
“Young people today have to respect the flag or we are going to lose the country. The people that respect the flag and do their duty, they are going to make this country what it is and make it great.”
Hendrickson said the deep respect for the nation’s flag did not come until he became part of the US Air Force.
“I was a naïve country kid. I didn’t know anything until I went out to war. That is when I started to understand what it meant to be an American and what it meant to take responsibility for the country up to death, if you had to. When you take that oath when you join the military, civilians don’t do that. So today without the draft, people have no clue - I had no clue – until they are touched by someone close to them who was killed in combat, then a family member) accepts the flag and it becomes very real to them.”
Hendrickson flew 170 combat missions with over 1,100 combat flying hours. After his separation from the Air Force he joined the Pennsylvania Air National Guard in July 1970. He was an interceptor pilot from July 1973 until April 1975. He transitioned to the A-7D Tactical Fighter as an instructor pilot from April 1975 to July 1981. He returned to the 112 TFG as Chief of the Command Post and Deputy Commander of the 146th until 1988. He became the 146th Squadron Commander until October 1990.
Henrickson said there have always been dissenting voices who challenge our Flag, but felt patriotic men and women would prevail.
“It’s been like this through the whole country’s history. A lot of people hated the country. Even in revolutionary war, there were those who wanted the British to take it over. Even in the Second World War, there were Nazis in this country that wanted to change it. And now, there are socialists who want to change it into a Communist-Socialist country. So it has been a fight all the time and it is going to continue that way. But if good people don’t take up the Flag, or don’t respect the country, we are down the tubes. It’s generation to generation.”
Luke took the stand again to speak about the historical revisions of the flag. As the revisions were being described, Boy Scout Troop 676 from Appleby Manor Church brought out a replica flag for display on North Water Street in front of the Lodge.
The Kittanning Fireman’s band played a piece combining the songs of the Armed Forces.
Luke led the crowd in singing “God Bless America” and the Pledge of Allegiance and gave closing remarks as the Kittanning Firemen’s Band played two more pieces to conclude the event.
“Flag Day means a great deal to me,” Jimmy Bray said. He lives in Cowansville and is a veteran of both the Air Force and the Navy. “It means thanking the Lord, thanking the veterans and the American people for our freedom.”
Army Veteran Steve Woodside from Kittanning was part of the crowd enjoying the celebration.
“It’s a special event for us because we’re sworn to protect and defend the constitution and the flag. It’s one day out of the year where we should all pause and reflect on the symbol of this great country which is the flag.”
The flag has a lot of meaning to it,” Kittanning resident Cheri Kulbacki said. “It represents our country and that we our united.
“It’s nice that everyone can get together for an event like this and honor the flag,” Dayton resident Lois Shaffer said.
The Flag Day celebration is an annual tradition at the Lodge.
by KP Intern Kyle Predmore