Old Glory honored with ceremony in Polson
HONOR GUARD Commander RUSS HARBIN, of VFW Post 112 in Polson, burns flags at the Lakeview Cemetery on Flag Day, while Boy Scouts Troop 1947 watches. (Ashley Fox/Lake County Leader)
Old Glory was honored in Polson last week for Flag Day with a two-part ceremony.
Starting at the Elks Club in Polson, club members were joined by the Boy Scouts Troop 1947, the Veterans’ Honor Guard and local veterans to pay respect to the United States flag.
Reviewing history and showing the progression of nine flags through the years, scouts presented the symbols one by one as history of each was read.
In 1907, Grand Lodge of the E and other organizations designated June 14 to commemorate the American flag, while President Harry S. Truman signed Flag Day into a holiday in 1949, Mission Valley Elks Lodge #1695 Esteemed Lecturing Knight Mark Jablinske explained prior to the ceremony.
“This is actually a program that is performed across the country in all Elks lodges” on June 14, he said.
History from the White Pinetree flag through the flag that Frances Scott Key looked up at while he penned “The Star Spangled Banner” was discussed.
Following the 30-minute ceremony, the group travelled to Lakeview Cemetery in Polson where a flag retirement was held.
“Basically the flags get burned and the ashes get buried,” Jablinske said.
At least 120 flags were respectfully retired, put to rest by Russ Harbin of the Veteran’s Honor Guard after Troop 1947 put the flags on a long metal pole.
Attending the retirement were approximately 10 veterans, 10 onlookers and seven scouts.