To the editor:
On Friday, June 14 at 7:30 p.m., Westwood Elk Lodge 1562 held a Flag Day service for the public at the Veterans Memorial Park gazebo. I opened the ceremony, explaining the importance of Flag Day to the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks.
Leading Knight Mike Travis gave a history of each flag. As each was brought out, DJ Mayo Credle greeted it with patriotic music. The ceremony ended with a few words by Westwood Mayor John Birkner Jr.
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, then assembled, provided for the annual nationwide observance of Flag Day on the 14th of June in each year by making it mandatory upon each local lodge.
What is the meaning of the flag of the United States? There can never be a definitive answer to that question. There are people in this world who see it as a symbol of imperialism; others see it as a destiny of the people. But reference to these and similar views of the flag was 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 shape of this nation. It has no other character than that which we give it from generation to generation. The choices are ours.”
On behalf of Westwood Elk Lodge 1562 I thank the officials of Westwood for allowing us to hold our flag service in Veterans Memorial Park.
For more information on how you can become a member of the Westwood Elks or to learn more of what the Elks do, please call Westwood Elk Lodge 1562 at (201) 666-1562.