EVENTS
OUR TWO NEWEST INITIATES
JOSEPH STOCK |
RANDY LYONS |
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ER Jack Wheeler poses
with his award from Grand Lodge for donating to Elks National Foundation over $1,000.00
The National Elks Convention was held on July 8th
- 12th in Charlotte,
N. C. The Elks from our Covington Lodge attending were Willie Parker, Larry Capes and Exalted Ruler Jack Wheeler. They were accompanied by their wives. The Georgia delegates stayed at the Residence Inn /Marriott in downtown Charlotte.      |
Honoring the flagBy Crystal Tatum Staff Reporter crystal.tatum@newtoncitizen.com COVINGTON — Today is Flag Day, the annual celebration of the anniversary of the adoption of the Stars and Stripes as the nation’s symbol. According to the National Flag Day Foundation, Flag Day originated in 1885, when Wisconsin school teacher BJ Cigrand arranged for his students to observe June 14 as the birth date of the American Flag. Flag Day was officially established by President Woodrow Wilson in 1916, but it wasn’t until 1949 that President Harry S. Truman signed an act of Congress designating June 14 of each year as Flag Day, according to www.usflag.org. Though it’s a holiday that many Americans may not honor, Flag Day’s importance should not be underestimated, said Newborn resident Roger Sheridan, a retired Army captain and member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars and the Covington Elks Lodge. “One of the problems I think we have today is that people do not recognize a lot of these things and they do not appreciate a lot of these things. The flag has been our symbol, and it’s very important, particularly to those of us who have been overseas and in combat. There’s noting finer than to see that flag flying, and we appreciate it and we pay tribute to it,” Sheridan said. Sheridan and his fellow members of Covington Elks Lodge 1806 held a Flag Day ceremony Wednesday night at their headquarters on Crowell Road. “One of the basic principles of the Elks is respect of the flag, so every year, we require all the Elks lodges to have a Flag Day ceremony,” Sheridan said. In fact, the Elks is the first and only fraternal body to require formal observance of Flag Day, Exalted Ruler Jack Wheeler said. The ceremony included the retirement of several worn flags. According to the U.S. Flag Code, when the flag is in such condition that it is no longer a fitting emblem for display, it should be destroyed in a dignified way, preferably by burning. “It’s a very respectful ceremony, and the flags are properly taken care of,” Sheridan said of the Elks method of burning the flags in an incinerator. Several Elks Club members gave speeches at the ceremony, including Robert Green, a member of American Legion Post 32 in Covington, who chronicled the history of the flag. The flag’s evolution marks the progress of the United States government, Green said. From the time the Pilgrims landed in 1620 until 1775, the Flag of England was the country’s official flag, Green said. Several flag designs were used, including the Pine Tree Flag and the Snake Flag, until Congress established the official flag, with 13 stars and stripes and the colors of red, white and blue, on June 14, 1777. In 1818, Congress adopted a resolution that thereafter the flag would maintain 13 stripes and the blue field would carry one star for each of the states of the union. From 1912 until 1959, the flag contained 48 stars. In 1959, a star was added for Alaska and a year later, another for Hawaii. Following Green, Sheridan spoke of the men and women who have carried the flag into battle. Sheridan said the flag’s greatest significance “lies in the influence it has in the hearts and minds of millions of people.” “It has waved over the unparalleled progress of a nation in developing democratic institutions, scientific and technological knowledge, education and culture. It has served as a beacon for millions of poor and oppressed refugees abroad and stands as a promise that the under-privileged will not be forgotten,” he said. The speeches were followed by a 21-gun salute by the VFW Honor Guard and the playing of “Taps.” Flag Day Coordinator Eloise Davis then told the history behind the song. The story goes that in 1862, Civil War Union Army Captain Robert Ellicombe, camped with his men near Harrison’s Landing in Virginia, heard the moans of a soldier lying severely wounded in a nearby field. Ellicombe risked his life to bring the man back for medical attention, but by the time he reached Union lines, the soldier was dead. That’s when he discovered that the man was not only a Confederate soldier, but his own son, who had been studying music in the South and had enlisted in the Army without telling his father Ellicombe asked permission to give his son a full military burial. His superiors refused to grant him use of a full military band but did allow him to have one bugler at the funeral. Ellicombe asked the bugler play a series of musical notes he had found on a piece of paper in the pocket of his son’s uniform, the haunting melody now known as “Taps.” |
AWARDS FROM JEKYLL ISLAND CONFERENCE Aidmore Participation First Place NE District Aidmore Participation
Outstanding Contribution Award Outstanding Contribution Award |
State Hoop Shoot, Feb 24th at NCHS GYM
They also serve...
Valentines Dance & District Hoop Shoot-
Feb 10
Aidmore Ball -
Jan 20
Hoop Shoot, Newton County High, 12:30, Jan 21
Elkadette Meeting - Jan 23
Shopper's Bowl, Jan 28, 2:00 PM
Some of our hard-working folk responsible for our float being in the Parade
Our first-ever float in the Newton County Christmas Parade
Signs inform the community of just a few of our contributions to Newton County
residents.
Just three of our many volunteers for Work Day at Aidmore:
Reverse Raffle
Elkadette Aidmore Cookout
Elkadette activities and photos
Elkadette yard sale photos
FLAG DAY photos courtesy of Bud & Miriam:
HALLOWEEN DINNER PARTY PHOTOS
Click on each thumbnail photo below to see larger photo |
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(Link to Penny's photos of Elkadette officer installation and Bingo appreciation dinner)
BINGO each Monday and Thursday evening, 7:00 PM
Joe Neely & the VFW begin Flag Day Ceremonies
Joe Neely, Flag Day Coordinator and speaker
Speaker: VFW Post Commander Bobby Wise
American Legion Post
32's Bob Green
and Elk Lodge #1806 member
also spoke
HIGH SCHOOL ELK SCHOLARSHIP WINNERS:
Ashley Nicole Allen
Kristen Childers
Philip Cook
Kathryn Elizabeth Moss
Emily Phillips
Terrence Masters
Lauren Haymore
Ashley Norton
THREE-STATE SOCCER SHOOT RESULTS: Girls U-8 Boys U-8 Girls U-10 Boys U-10 Girls U-12 Boys U-12 Girls U-14 Boys U-14 |
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HALLOWEEN DANCE
Soccer Dinner and Award Ceremonies working crew.
The Covington Elks lodge Soccer Shoot was held Saturday, September
18, 2004. We had 10 Elks and 6 Elkadette's helping. We had about fifty youth
taking part. They shot in 8 different age levels and the winners from each
group will advance to the State Level which will take place on November 6,
2004.
The Covington Elks along with the Covington Elkadette's staffed the Georgia Drug
Awareness Trailer at the Covington Police Annual Fuzz Run. They had 2250 runners
competing. we had great participation from all ages of children. They especially
liked taking part with the Goggles that simulated a person being under the influence
of alcohol or drugs. Tle members gave out literature as well as getting the message
across that ELKS CARE/ ELKS SHARE
ELKADETTES gather items for project renewal
ELKS LOCAL, REGIONAL, AND STATE CHAMPS MAKE THE NEWS
Bob and Richard with Piedmont Academy
Elks essay contest entrants
State winners, Matthew O'Brien & Emily Beckham
Piedmont Academy students Emily Beckham (8th) and Matthew O’Brien (5th) won the regional and state essay contest for the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, Covington Lodge #1806. The topic of the 200-word essay was “Why I am Proud to say The Pledge of Allegiance”. The essay was judged 60% for contents and 40% for presentation and being grammatically correct. Both students will now advance to the Nationals to compete for that title which will be announced at the Grand Lodge Session in Minneapolis, Minnesota on July 4th.
“What the Pledge of Allegiance Means to Me”
Emily’s Beckham, 8th Grade
Don’t you find it odd that we, as Americans, are called “One nation under God” in our own pledge, but some now want those words to be excluded? This threat, however, only fueled my spirit for my country and made me anxious to speak the powerful words of the “Pledge of Allegiance” aloud. The men willing to die, both past and present, make me proud to say the Pledge of Allegiance. It honors the bold flag that represents an even bolder country, the United States of America. The “Pledge of Allegiance” is so much more than a group of words. It was written for and by American citizens, proud and free. It shows a magnificent depiction of unified Americans showing respect for our country and God. Our country was founded on religious principles, and now, much like a spoiled child, some people are wanting to ignore this fact. These are some of the countless reasons I’m proud to say the “Pledge of Allegiance” and to think of myself as part of the United States of America, a place where there’s “Liberty and justice for all.”
“What the Pledge of Allegiance Means to Me”
Matthew’s O’Brien, 5th Grade
To me, the “Pledge of Allegiance” symbolizes honor, freedom, and security. Freedom because of the patriotic words that are spoken in it. Security because we are able to say it without worrying that we might be prosecuted for saying it. Honor because we’re pledging our allegiance.
My favorite phrase is “With liberty and justice for all.” I like it because it never ceases to tell me that I’m in a free country. It also tells me that the justice system will always give me a fair trial. Together it makes me think of America. I also like “Under God” because it makes me feel protected. But I dislike taking that phrase out.
It should be a sin to take out God’s name in the “Pledge of Allegiance” because if this mighty country would take it out we would be denying the principals on which this country was founded. And who knows this country might start to fall. It’s as if we pledging the republic. We might as well stop saying it.
AWARDS FROM JEKYLL ISLAND CONFERENCE Aidmore Participation First Place NE District Aidmore
Participation Outstanding Contribution Award Outstanding Contribution Award |
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