AUGUSTA — Members and officers of the Maine Elks Association held their annual Flag Day service on June 14 at the Togus V.A. Medical Center. The ceremony was held on behalf of veterans at the hospital and was broadcast on the VA center’s closed-circuit television system.

The ceremony was opened by James York of the Waterville Elks Lodge, serving as master of ceremonies. He introduced State President Roger Normandeau of the Sanford Elks Lodge, who, along with fellow officers performed the introductory exercises for the event. A history of the American Flag was then presented by Past State President Robert Drisko of the Augusta Elks Lodge.

During the reading of the flag’s history, Exalted Rulers and members of the Augusta and Waterville Elk lodges presented each flag while accompanied by music provided by John Plummer of the Augusta Lodge.

Flags that were presented included the Pine Tree Flag of 1775, the Snake Flag of 1776-1777, a flag bearing the red cross of St. George and the White Cross of St. Andrew of 1775, the Grand Union Flag of 1777, the Fort McHenry Flag of 1812, the 20-star Flag of 1818, the 48-star flag, and today’s 50-star flag, accompanied by the POW-MIA flag, remembering those who have served their country and were either held prisoner or are still missing in action.

Following the presentation of the flags, a response was given by Past State President Philip O’Brion of the Farmington Elks Lodge, followed by an inspirational reading given by MEA President-Elect Wayne Cotterly of the Lewiston Elks Lodge. Cotterly read portions of a speech given by U.S. Sen. John McCain at the Republican National Convention in 1988. The Pledge of Allegiance was then recited by those in attendance.

Following this, MEA First Vice-President John Nicholson of the Millinocket Elks Lodge read a piece called “Hello, Remember Me?,” an essay depicting the flag’s point of view toward Americanism today. The service concluded with a singing of “God Bless America.”