Boy Scouts to honor Flag Day
Published 9:18 pm Friday, June 13, 2008
John Levandowski of Mukilteo has a third flag to add to his cabinet.
The first two flags were given to his family after the deaths of his father and father-in-law, who both served in the military during World War II.
The third flag — recently given to Levandowski’s oldest son for earning his Eagle Scout rank — was made by Bob Heft, who designed the current-day 50-state Stars and Stripes during a high school project in 1958.
Many people don’t know today is Flag Day, but the annual holiday has added significance for the Levandowski family after receiving Heft’s gift.
“This one really hit home because we’re all Americans here,” John Levandowski said. “It’s all about the flag, being reverent and respect.”
June 14 marks the anniversary of when the United States adopted its first national flag in 1777.
In Snohomish, members of Boy Scout Troop 288 plan to participate in a noon flag ceremony with the Washington National Guard. During the ceremony, the Scouts will replace the flag at Top Foods at 1301 Ave. D. The scouts plan on retiring the old flag during a ceremony Monday.
Don Crowley, assistant scoutmaster of Troop 288, said his group feels honored to be taking part in the Flag Day ceremony.
“It just shows the respect for the flag and the U.S.,” said Crowley, of Everett.
Expect to see more flags than usual posted around Snohomish County, especially in the Lynnwood area, said Shannon Sessions of the Lynnwood Police Department.
Through a Rotary Club of Lynnwood program, people can pay $35 a year to have volunteers post flags on their properties during patriotic holidays. After the holiday, volunteers will drive around and collect the flags, Sessions said.
Proceeds from the Celebrate America program help fund Rotary’s various community service programs.
“It’s neat to recognize the flag, and to celebrate all the patriotic holidays and to bring attention to them,” Sessions said. “And it looks sharp.”
Levandowski plans to hang a flag on his garage, but not the Stars and Stripes given to his son.
He said he doesn’t fault people who forget today is Flag Day.
“I didn’t even know this was Flag Day until the other day when I saw it on the calendar,” Levandowski said.
Reporter Scott Pesznecker: 425-339-3436 or spesznecker@heraldnet.com.
U.S. flag adopted, June 14, 1777
Continental Congress adopts the following: Resolved: that the flag of the United States be thirteen stripes, alternate red and white; that the union be thirteen stars, white in a blue field, representing a new constellation.
Stars represent Delaware, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Georgia, Connecticut, Massachusetts, Maryland, South Carolina, New Hampshire, Virginia, New York, North Carolina and Rhode Island.
