Sikeston celebrates Flag Day

SIKESTON -- Flags flying high along Kingshighway and a special ceremony set for later today are just a couple of ways Sikeston is displaying American pride for Flag Day.

"To us, the American flag symbolizes our freedom, and the red for the blood that has been spread and shed for all of our comrades that didn't make it home," said veteran Larry Floyd. "The flag is something special everybody should appreciate."

For years members of the American Legion in Sikeston have gotten up early on holiday mornings to display approximately 40 flags along Kingshighway.

Over the past three or four years Floyd, along with fellow American Legion members Chester Kordahl and Blair Moran -- and anyone else who's handy -- put up the flags for holidays like today, Memorial Day, Fourth of July and Veterans Day.

"We always check them and make sure they're not messed up in any way," Floyd noted. "It's a very important deal for the American Legion and all of our veterans.

On May 30, 1916, President Woodrow Wilson declared June 14 Flag Day. Flag Day is a day all Americans are encouraged to fly and pay homage to the American flag.

"We appreciate having the opportunity to do this. It's a small effort for such a traditional and a worthwhile cause. To us it's very important," said Floyd, a 20-year member of the American Legion.

The Sikeston Elks Lodge 2319 will conduct a ceremony to honor the United States Flag at 5 p.m. today at the Elks Lodge, located at 149 Dona St.

The New Madrid County Central High School's Junior ROTC will begin the program by presenting formal colors.

Then either members from the Boy or Girl Scouts present each separate flag from U.S. history.

"There's about 14 or 15 different flags -- from the very first used by United States through the current flag, and we do a little story about each flag," explained Flag Day coordinator Thurman Burns Jr.

Typically the 40-minute ceremony is held at the Veterans Park but this year due to a conflict of time for the Lodge's meeting, it will be held at the Lodge.

And people of all ages are welcome to attend, Burns said.

"I'm a veteran, but we have members who are dedicated to the Flag Day ceremony and never in the service who do it. And they do it because they are an American," Burns said.

In addition, each year on Flag Day, the Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 3174 and Boy Scouts have ceremony to properly dispose of worn out or no longer fit for display flags.

The Federal Flag Code states when the flag is worn out or no longer fit for display, it should be destroyed in a dignified manner, preferably by burning and burying the ashes.

"My own personal opinion is that we, as Americans, should be proud and respect our country and show respect for its history and keep its history alive (through Flag Day)," Burns said.

And without the country's fore fathers, what would Americans have? Burns questioned.

"Without the veterans who served under each one of these flags, we wouldn't have anything," Burns said. "We wouldn't have all of freedoms we have today."