SPRINGFIELD ELKS LODGE 1560 HOLD ANNUAL FLAG DAY CEREMONY

    Each year on the second Sunday in June all Elks Lodges throughout the country hold their annual Flag Day ceremony.   Springfield Elks Lodge held there’s on June 12, at the Lodge banquet hall.  They invited local Cub, Boys and Girl scout troops to join in with a presentation of the history of our flags from the 1700’s to our present day flag.  As the history of our flags is presented scouts bring in each flag of that time period and place it in a pedestal.

    This years ceremony also consisted of the presentation of one boy scout receiving his Eagle Scout honor from the Elks.   Andrew Scott Czwakiel son of Bruce and Lisa Czwakiel, was presented with an Elks plaque for his hard work.  He earned his Eagle Scout rank on Dec. 16, 2015.  He has since earned his Bronze and Gold palms.  Andrew’s been actively involved in Troop 252 for six years and has held leadership positions as Scribe, Quartermaster and Senior Patrol Leader.  Andrew’s Eagle Scout project was taking down and rebuilding the tennis practice wall at Riverside Middle School next to the tennis courts.  This project had and estimated cost of $2500 with 32 scouts and leaders putting in 234 hours of their time.  Andrew is using his last few months as a scout to mentor fellow scout leaders in the Patrol Leader’s Council as they plan hikes up Mt. Mansfield and Mt. Katahdin this summer and plan a trip to Yellowstone for next summer.   Andrew’s father Bruce was also his Scoutmaster of Troop 252.

    Exalted Ruler Vicki Siliski and her ritual team of Jim Morse, Karen Whitney, Kathi Williams, Andy Cook and Jacky Goodrich presented the Elks portion of the Flag Day Ceremony.