MONTICELLO, NY — Monticello Elks Lodge #1544 and Liberty Elks Lodge #1545 sponsored a special Flag Day service on Sunday, June 12 at the Sullivan County Government Center. More than 200 people heard the history of the American flag. Fire trucks were on hand from Monticello, Fallsburg and White Lake, along with officials, state police, sheriff’s deputies, firefighters, Scouts and Little League teams. Guest speaker County Court Judge Michael McGuire remarked, “We are not only honoring our flag but what it represents—freedom.” Presiding over the service were Monticello Exalted Ruler Frank Muller and Liberty Exalted Ruler Richard Levine.

In 1907, the Elks became the first fraternal organization to mandate the observance of Flag Day (June 14). More than 40 years later, President Harry Truman, who was also an Elk, signed into law a declaration naming Flag Day as an official national holiday. Every Elks Lodge across the U.S. holds an annual Flag Day Service.