The Elks Lodge Commemorates Flag Day

The Elks members: (left to right) Susan Dunn (Esquire), Bill Link (Chaplain), Michael Bendorf (Exalted Ruler), Susan Evans (Leading Knight), Brian Flavin (Loyal Knight), Andrew Adams (Lecturing Knight), and Shawn Boblitt (Inner Guard).

By RUTH GILL

Enquirer~Democrat Reporter

Flag Day commemorates the day, June 14, 1777, when the Continental Congress decided what the official American flag would be. The Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks was the first fraternal organization to formally celebrate Flag Day. In 1907, the Grand Lodge encouraged every lodge to hold a ceremony on June 14 to honor the U.S. flag. By 1911, June 14 became an annual celebration for all Elks Lodges, emphasizing the organization’s commitment to patriotism and civic responsibility.

To commemorate Flag Day, the Elks Lodge #142 held its annual Flag Day Ceremony on Sunday, June 14, at the Gazebo on the Carlinville Square. Members from the American Legion Post #554 and Boy Scout Troop #62 presented the flags while music was provided by the Carlinville Municipal Band. The types of flags the Scouts presented were for the Elks, Illinois, MIA/POW, and the United States.

The Carlinville Municipal Band started the evening performing a variety of patriotic music. One of the songs the band played was “God Bless America,” which was sung by Amelia Cosenza and Elizabeth Clark. The final piece played was “The Stars and Stripes Forever,” which showcased the piccolo and the trumpet players.

After the playing of the “Star Spangled Banner,” Michael Bendorf, the current Exalted Ruler for the Elks Lodge#142, started the ceremony by thanking everyone who attended and joined in the celebration. He said the Elks have a long history of celebrating Flag Day and honoring veterans. The ceremony’s purpose is to honor our Country’s flag, to celebrate the anniversary of its birth, and to recall its achievements.

Read the full story in the June 25, 2026 issue of the Macoupin County Enquirer~Democrat.