Story

YourHub.com \\ Niagara Falls \\ Stories \\ News \\ About Town

FLAG DAY CEREMONY IN NIAGARA FALLS

e-mail to a friend | print this | link to this

Contributed by: Norma Higgs on 6/17/2008

June 14th was Flag Day In Niagara Falls and the event was celebrated at the Cenotaph, a small park on the corner of Main Street and Pine Avenue. The event is hosted annually by the Main Street Business & Profesisonal Association and the Niagara Falls Block Club Council. For those of you who may have missed our event I am going to show you a few photos and present a few facts about Flag Day. Click on each photo for a larger version.

Cenotaph Park was decorated by small flags on loan from St Paul's Episcopal Church on Ridge Street in Lewiston. The City provided their new bandstand for ceremony participants and it arrived right on time. We spent a few minutes adding some red, white and blue. Small flags donated by Old GLory Flag Company were distributed along with booklets describing Flag Day contributed by Hon. Louise Slaughter and Hon. Francine DelMonte.
Master of Ceremonies Was WIlliam Bradberry,City Administrator.

The Congressional statute provides that Flag Day must begin at 7:00 p.m. on June 14th of each year. We always meet that requirement and the presentation of colors was led by Niagara Falls Police Department Officer David Cudahy. The Honor Guard stands at attention during the singing of the National Anthem by Vicki Spanbauer, Niagara Falls student and the Pledge of Allegience which was led by Mayor Paul Dyster. City Councilman Charles Walker presented a prayer for the event.

Our program continued with a reading of the History of the Flag by New York State Assemblywoman Francine DelMonte and a History of the Pledge of Allegience was read by New York State Senator Antoine Thompson.

Niagara County Chief Deputy James Voutour provided a reading of the History of Flag Day itself. This was new to our program this year as not many citizens are familiar with the founding of this national celebration.

A highlight of the evening was a presentation of several patriotic songs by The Notables, a local singing group led by Roy McDowell. Mr. McDowell surprised us with his rendition of "Proud to be an American".

Our next speaker was Dr. Rocco LaRocca, a patriotic citizen and veteran who introduced a famous poem by John McCrae who served in the Canadian Army during WWI as a Medical Doctor.

"In Flanders Field" by John McRae

In Flanders fields the poppies blow
That mark our place; and in the sky
The larks, still bravely singing flyI
Scarce heard amid the guns below.

We are the Dead. Short days ago
Between the crosses row on row
We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow
Loved and were loved, and now we lie
in Flanders Fields

Take up our quarrel with the foe:
To you from failing hands we throw
The torch; be yours to hold it high
If ye break faith with us who die
We shall not sleep, though poppies grow
In Flanders fields.

Former Prisoner of War, John Maroon spoke to the younger generation of his travails and urged them to participate and be patriotic. "Of course, I was afraid" he tells them, "but my faith pulled me through.

Marine Corps League veterans were honored with a proclamation offered by Senator Antoine Thompson and a photographic display of the design of the new Veterans Park in Hyde Park was displayed.

Chris DiDonna, Leader of the Niagara Falls Junior Military League Cadets read a rendition of "I Am The Flag". and Jeffrey Sheridan, representing U. S. Congresswoman Louise Slaughter offered her best wishes and thoughts on Flag Day.

The program was closed with a prayer offered by City Councilman Charles Walker and David Cudahy performed Amazing Grace. on the bagpipes. Thanks to those who joined us and I hope you enjoyed this rendition. The ceremony is dedicated as usual to Frances Scarfone who loved Flag Day.