From 13 stars to 50: Elks lodge Flag Day celebration spotlights evolution of the red, white and blue
The flags of the U.S. military branches are carried during the Wareham-New Bedford Elks Lodge Flag Day ceremony on Saturday, June 6. Photo by Judith Whiteside
Caps that cadets wore during the ceremony. Photo by Jim Callan
Cadets from Massachusetts Maritime Academy salute. Photo by Jim Callan
Seats were packed for the Flag Day celebration. Photo by Jim Callan
A large flag hoisted from a fire tower truck. Photo by Jim Callan
Ceremony participants carry flags representing branches of the military. Photo by Judith Whiteside
Cadets hold American flags showing its evolution since the country's founding. Photo by Judith Whiteside
The flags of the U.S. military branches are carried during the Wareham-New Bedford Elks Lodge Flag Day ceremony on Saturday, June 6. Photo by Judith Whiteside
Caps that cadets wore during the ceremony. Photo by Jim Callan
Cadets from Massachusetts Maritime Academy salute. Photo by Jim Callan
Seats were packed for the Flag Day celebration. Photo by Jim Callan
A large flag hoisted from a fire tower truck. Photo by Jim Callan
Ceremony participants carry flags representing branches of the military. Photo by Judith Whiteside
Cadets hold American flags showing its evolution since the country's founding. Photo by Judith Whiteside
Wareham residents got a glimpse of the history of the American flag at the Wareham-New Bedford Elks Lodge's annual Flag Day ceremony on Saturday, June 6.
During the Flag Day gathering, residents watched as Massachusetts Maritime Academy cadets walked through the history of the American flag. According to Elks lodge trustee Jim Callan, each cadet walked out with different flags representing different eras in U.S. history.
Callan said that the event spotlighted the "evolution of the American flag."
Flags included the "Don't tread on me" Gadsden flag and former flags that resemble the current current U.S. flag, but with fewer stars.
The ceremony included guest speakers Commander Colleen McRae, an associate professor at Massachusetts Maritime Academy and state Rep. Steven Xiarhos (R-Barnstable), a Gold Star father whose son was killed in Afghanistan.
McRae spoke about her veteran father and the significance of the American flag to her, according to Callan. Xiarhos spoke about his son, Nicholas Xiarhos, who was killed during Operation Enduring Freedom in 2009.
"There wasn't a dry eye in the crowd," Callan said. "And everybody felt his pain."
Callan said Xiarhos' sharing of his experience losing his son had a "tremendous impact."
According to Callan, Elks Lodges are required to host Flag Day ceremonies each year. The group opted to hold the celebration of the flag on the 6th to avoid scheduling conflicts on actual June 14 holiday.
At the end of the ceremony, Elks Lodge members honored retiring Flag Day Committee Chairman Ray Rock with a gift as a "send off."
"In my mind, Flag Day will always be Ray Rock Day," Callan said. "That's how much we love and admire him."
According to Callan, over 100 people were in attendance, which he said was a "tremendous success."
