Wednesday, June 15th, 2016
St. Henry hosts first Flag Day event
By Ed Gebert
Photo by Ed Gebert/The Daily Standard
St. Henry American Legion members lead the procession during the village's Flag Day celebration Tuesday evening at the Freedom Amphitheater. The observance was hosted by St. Henry American Legion Post 648 and the St. Henry Boy Scouts.
ST. HENRY - The red, white and blue was honored Tuesday during the inaugural Flag Day celebration at the St. Henry Freedom Amphitheater.
The event was staged by St. Henry American Legion Post 648 and the St. Henry Boy Scouts.
Legion adjutant Kelly Kunkler thanked those who participated in the community's first Flag Day observance but added she would have liked more people to have attended.
The program began with patriotic music and singing followed by recitation of the Pledge of Allegiance led by Kunkler. Erin Clune and Rachel Werling sang the national anthem.
Boy Scouts performed a ceremonial flag-burning to retire old flags brought by residents. Participants also honored members of the St. Henry Fire Department.
Flag Day is observed on June 14 each year, commemorating the date in 1777 when Old Glory was officially declared the banner of the United States.
Also participating in Tuesday's program were Jane Woods of the St. Henry American Legion Auxiliary, who gave the invocation; Bill Koesters of the St. Henry American Legion Post 648, who offered the benediction; and Bill Friesthler of the St. Henry Legion post, who played "Taps."
Kunkler said she hopes the celebration becomes an annual event.
