Local Elks Lodge pays honor to "Old Glory during annual Flag Day celebration

Gaffney Elks Lodge 1305 celebrated Flag Day on Saturday, a tradition of Elks lodges across the country for the past 100 years. In photo, state Rep. Dennis Moss presents a U.S. Flag that flew over the state capitol in Columbia to members of the local lodge. Many people might not have noticed the holiday celebrated on Saturday but that wasn't the case at Gaffney's Elks Lodge 1305.

Members of the fraternal organization gathered Saturday in their West Oneal Street lodge to honor the 13 stripes and field of 50 stars that make up the U.S. flag.

Saturday marked the annual celebration of Flag Day, which is observed each June 14 in honor and memory of a June 14, 1777, act of the Second Continental Congress that designated a flag of 13 stripes and 13 stars to represent the fledgling United States and the 13 colonies.

The Benevolent and Protective Order of the Elks has been observing Flag Day for the past 100 years, predating the 1916 proclamation by President Woodrow Wilson that established the holiday.

"Our Flag is at once a history, a declaration and prophecy," Mike Wylie, exalted ruler of the local lodge, said during the ceremony. "It represents the American nation as it was at its birth. It speaks for what it is today. And it holds the opportunity for the future to add other stars to the glorious constellation."

As part of its annual observance of Flag Day, the local Elks lodge was collecting worn flags for proper retirement. Wylie said a retirement ceremony would be held at a later date.