Elks ceremony set for Flag Day
MOUNT CARMEL - The Mount Carmel Elks Lodge No. 356 will conduct its annual Flag Day ceremony at the lodge located at 128 North Oak St. at 6 p.m. Tuesday.
The idea of a Flag Day service was first suggested to the BPOE by the then Grand Exalted Ruler at the 1907 Grand Lodge session in Philadelphia. Of the dates submitted for consideration at the time, June 14 was adopted by the session and was called "Elks Flag Day." The following year, the Grand Lodge approved a ritual for the Flag Day ceremony.
In 1911, the Grand Lodge made the observance of Flag Day mandatory for subordinate lodges by the adoption of the statute that states: "It shall be the duty of each subordinate lodge to hold the service known as 'Flag Day Services' at the time and in the manner prescribed by the ritual of the Order."
It wasn't until August 3, 1949 when President Harry S Truman, himself a member of the Elks, made the proclamation that June 14th would be a day of national observance for the symbol of our country.
Thus the BPOE was not only the first fraternal organization to celebrate Flag Day, but had made this ceremony mandatory years before the date on which the observance became a nation-wide practice by legal decree.
Lodge Officers conducting this year's program will be: Ricky Schnee, exalted ruler; Bruce Facer, leading knight; Sandy Facer, loyal knight; Mary Ann Wydra, PER, esquire; Joseph Zanella, chaplain, and Ron Shopinski, PER.
The ceremony is open to the public and all are invited to attend this patriotic program. Refreshments will be served at the conclusion of the program.
MC Borough community yard sale
MOUNT CARMEL --- The borough will hold its annual community yard sale on Saturday, June 18 starting at 7 a.m.