The town was covered in red, white and blue to commemorate Flag Day. Akron Elks Lodge #2579 set up many flags and handed out small flags to those who went into Odells last Thursday, June 14 and at 2 p.m., the Elks held a flag day ceremony. The Elks are required to hold a ceremony every Flag Day. Flag Day was first observed in Wisconsin in 1885. June 14th was the date chosen because that was the 108th official adoption of the Stars and Stripes. It was officially established by a proclamation by President Wilson on May 30, 1916, but it was not officially recognized by the federal government until August 3, 1949 when President Truman signed an Act of Congress designating June 14 of each year as National Flag Day. The Elks then gave a short ceremony, followed by Elk Richard Parker, who gave the history of the different flags of the United States and Colorado. The different flags were displayed by the Elks. The Pine Tree flag was adopted in 1775 and used on all colonial vessels. This flag was carried during the battle of Bunker Hill. Different versions of the Pine Tree flag were almost 100 years old at the time of Bunker Hill. The Snake Flag was used from 1776 to 1777. It showed a rattlesnake and the words "Don't Tread On Me" and different versions of the flag were seen through the Revolution. A blue flag with a white crescent and the word Liberty, was ordered to be displayed by South Caroline by the Provincial Congress for a battle at Fort Moultrie in 1776.


The next flag was designed by the Second Rhode Island Regiment who combined state and national symbols. The flag had an anchor with the word "HOPE" and showed the 12 stars to represent the United States. The stars were gold. The Grand Union flag was widely known throughout the colonies and this was the design, that was modified, that was chosen for the first American national flag. The white stripes, the colonies were symbolized, the Union Jack indicated that independence was not yet demanded and it was known as Continental Colors, until the Grand Union was the name most commonly used. Another flag that was used by George Washington was one form of the New England flag, which dates back to 1686. The flag is white with a green pine tree and the words "Appeal to Heaven". It was officially adopted by the Massachusetts Navy in April, 1776 and continued in use for many years. The earliest known flag of 13 stars and 13 stripes was first used at the Battle of Bennington in August of 1777 and it is still preserved today at a museum in Bennington, Vermont. The flag also has 76 on it and the stars have seven points, while other flags have stars with four to eight points. The next flag was sewn by Betsy Ross and she was the one who suggested that the stars have five points, instead of seven. It was first flown at Fort Stanwix, near Rome, New York on August 3, 1777 the first official toast to the flag was given on February, 24, 1778 and it was given by France, when the 'Ranger', commanded by John Paul Jones ordered the toast to the flag. In 1795, two additional stars and stripes were added to the flag. This flag was used during the War of 1812 and it was this flag that was flown over Fort McHenry that inspired Frances Scott Key to write "The Star Spangled Banner", which later was put to music and became our national anthem. The flag of Colorado was then displayed. This flag was adopted on June 5, 1911 and the colors of the national flag are embodied in the state flag. The blue for the massive Colorado skies, the white of her snows, the red of her crop yielding soils and the gold added to represent the precious metal, which gave Colorado its beginning. This serene beauty of gracious skies and amber waves of grain inspired Catherine Lee Bates to write "America the Beautiful." The final flag shown was the flag used today, with 13 stripes representing the original 13 colonies and 50 stars, for the 50 states in the United States. This brought the flag day ceremony to a close and the Elks appreciate those who came to the ceremony and helped them celebrate Flag Day.