Flag Day programs set planned

The United Veterans of Flathead Valley, in conjunction with the Kalispell Elks Lodge, will present a Flag Day program at 5 p.m. Tuesday in front of the veterans memorial in Kalispell’s Depot Park.

Patriotic music will begin the 45-minute program, which will include raising new flags and retiring and burning old flags. Spectators are urged to bring camp chairs.

The Elks Lodge will provide a social hour for all participants afterwards at the lodge, 1820 U.S. 93 South in Kalispell.

In case of inclement weather, the ceremony also will be conducted at the Elks Lodge.

The Elks and United Veterans encourage everyone to examine their flags and retire tattered, worn or dirty flags. Retired flags may be dropped off at the Elks Lodge prior to the ceremony or brought to the ceremony for proper disposition.

Also on Flag Day, American Legion Post 137 in Kalispell will conduct a flag retirement ceremony at 1 p.m. at the American Legion Hall, corner of East Washington Street and Fourth Avenue East North.

Flag Day dates back to 1885 when a Wisconsin schoolteacher proposed a flag recognition day.

The event slowly spread across America and in 1916 President Woodrow Wilson signed a Flag Day proclamation. Congress passed legislation designating June 14 as National Flag Day and President Harry Truman signed it into law in 1949.