6A | WEDNESDAY, JUNE 16, 2021 | SIUSLAW NEWS
created by President Eisen-
hower to select the appropriate
symbol for the country.
The flag’s stripes represent
the original 13 Colonies and
the stars represent the 50 states
of the Union. The colors of
the flag are symbolic as well;
red symbolizes hardiness and
valor, white symbolizes purity
and innocence, and blue rep-
resents vigilance, perseverance
and justice.
Despite its auspicious be-
ginnings, Flag Day is not a fed-
eral holiday and only the State
of Pennsylvania recognizes it
as a legal holiday.
Among those who observe
the day is the Benevolent
and Protective Order of Elks,
which has celebrated the holi-
day since the early days of the
organization. Allegiance to the
flag is a requirement of every
member.
In 1907, the BPOE Grand
Lodge designated by resolu-
tion June 14 as Flag Day, de-
SIUSLAW from page 1A
“Yes, you can see it in the
eyes, even if they’re wearing a
mask,” Moser agreed.
One special component of
graduation this year was that
all graduates, including those
who received GEDs, were
honored during the ceremo-
ny.
Siuslaw High School Prin-
cipal Garth Gerot welcomed
the seniors and their guests,
saying, “Thank you for join-
ing us tonight to celebrate the
Siuslaw High School Class
of 2021 as they conclude
their high school education.
These students have over-
come tremendous obstacles
to get here tonight and have
demonstrated incredible re-
silience and perseverance.”
During the ceremony,
Florence Veterans of Foreign
Wars Post 3232 presented
colors and the Siuslaw High
School Choir led the Nation-
al Anthem.
Next, presentations were
given by the Outstanding Se-
nior Girl Brea Blankenship
cades before it’s recognition
nationally. The Grand Lodge
of the Order of Elks adopted
mandatory observance of the
occasion by every Lodge in
1911, and that requirement
continues.
According to George Bandy,
member of the Florence Elks
Lodge #1858 and a veteran,
“This day is extra special to us
as Elks. As such with charity,
we hold it close to our hearts.”
The local Elks Lodge cel-
ebrated the American Flag
Monday in a socially distanced
ceremony recognizing the
changes in the design of the
flag over the years. One com-
ponent was guest speaker, Sha-
ron J. Armstrong, Captain of
US Coast Guard Reserve (re-
tired), reading the history of
the country and the flags.”
Each flag was represented,
from 1775 to the present flag
along with the Prisoner of
War/Missing in Action (POW-
MIA) Flag from the Vietnam
era.
Flag Day was also observed
and Outstanding Senior Boy
Elijah Blankenship.
For Brea, she said the de-
fining characteristic of the
Class of 2021 is that it is a
class of leaders.
“I think it’s because of
leadership in this class that
we were able to make the
most of our senior year giv-
en the circumstances,” she
said. “We went into this year
optimistic, knowing that it
was unlikely we would ever
get a normal senior year, but
we remained determined to
keep the traditions alive.”
As for Elijah, “We learned
that we can make the best
out of our circumstances and
it just requires us taking ac-
tion. Most importantly, we’ve
learned that we need to take
responsibility for our own
successes.”
Next, Siuslaw School
Board members Paul Burns
and John Barnett joined fac-
ulty members Max Perry and
Sean O’Mara in presenting
diplomas to the seniors.
Elijah read the roll, an-
nouncing each senior’s hon-
Local veterans and community members attended events honoring the American flag on June 14, Flag Day.
by members of American Le-
gion Francis M. Yost Post 59,
based in Florence, along with
other veterans, in the green-
space across from Veterans
Memorial Park in Historic Old
Town Florence.
The ceremony was solemn,
befitting the sacred honor of
retiring deteriorating Ameri-
can flags.
Nearly 100 flags were
dropped off at local vet-related
locations and a collection of
veterans from the American
Legion, Veterans of Foreign
Wars and the Disabled Amer-
ican Veterans (DAV) were on
hand to take the flags to the
firepits created especially for
the ceremony.
According to DAV leader
Steve Baggin, “The flag is a
symbol of everything Ameri-
ca stands for: freedom, justice
and patriotism. It is important
that we remember the mean-
ing of the flag and what it
stands for.”
Florence as a community
ors as they crossed the po-
dium to shake hands and
receive their diplomas. In
addition, each graduate re-
ceived a sunflower as they
returned to their seats.
Then, Gerot and Vice
Principal Dave Goetz direct-
ed the seniors to move their
tassels from right to left.
“On behalf of the Siuslaw
School Board of Directors,
Superintendent Andy Grz-
eskowiak, the teachers and
staff of Siuslaw High School
and the rest of the Siuslaw
School District, it is our plea-
sure to introduce the Siuslaw
High School graduated Class
of 2021,” the administrators
said.
The graduates tossed their
hats before walking out to the
class song, “Six Feet Apart”
by Luke Combs, and greeting
the gathered guests.
In all, 72 diplomas were
distributed during the cere-
mony out of 94 total gradu-
ates.
For Moser, who is mov-
ing out of state at the end
of the school year, “We felt
this year it was very perti-
nent to go back and honor
everybody for their accom-
plishments. And to those
students who weren’t able
to make it tonight, a shout
out from the staff. We be-
lieve in every student who
comes into these doors and
leaves these doors. We wish
only the best for them. Even
though they couldn’t be here
tonight, they’re definitely in
our thoughts and they will
they always will be. We wish
them the best of luck.”
People can view the Siu-
slaw graduation at Siuslaw
High School Events on
YouTube or by visiting
Siuslaw.k12.or.us.
honors the day by participat-
ing in Florence Kiwanis Club’s
Flag Program. As such, hun-
dreds of flags lined Highway
101, Rhododendron Drive
and the Old Town area.
This was important to the
gathered veterans at the Flag
Retirement Ceremony, as
several expressed the belief
that younger generations are
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not familiar or appreciative of
what the flag means to older,
more traditional Americans.
“The young people don’t
seem to know, or care, what
it has taken to insure all of the
freedoms we enjoy. I just wish
they would take more pride
in this country and what we
mean to the rest of the world,”
said a veteran named Chuck.
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held Elmira’s top scorer from their previous game to just 2
points.
Honorable Mention:
Opal Burress - Mapleton Basketball
Honorable Mention goes to junior Mapleton Girls Basketball
player Opal Burress. Opal continues to be the leader and
court general for the Sailors and has been their most prolific
scorer with double figure stats multiple times during the
Sailor’s season.
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