Beaufort's Flag Day Celebration
By Susan Clark | Hundreds gathered at downtown’s Henry C. Chambers Waterfront Park yesterday to take part in a Flag Day celebration sponsored by the Knights of Columbus. Flag Day was a little different this year in Beaufort County. Instead of being at the Naval Hospital where it is traditionally held, the celebration was moved to Waterfront Park. Sir Knight Steve Mendoza, main organizer for the event, said that the “committee decided to change locations sothat the Flag Day celebration could be enjoyed by the public.” With the Knights of Columbus and the City of Beaufort co-hosting the event, the crowd was pumped for a lively celebration.
The program consisted of prayers by Paul MacNeil of St. Peter’s Catholic Church and Steve Keeler of Sea Island Presbyterian Church, a reading of the history of the flag, and a patriotic sing-along led by the Parish Choir from St. Peter’s Catholic Church. Rep. Shannon Erickson led the crowd in the Pledge of Allegiance; which I haven’t recited since my time at Beaufort High. In school, students say the pledge every day, however, as life goes on there are less opportunities to do so. It was a refreshing experience to be able to stand with a crowd of other patriotic Americans and recite the Pledge. The Parish Choir sung famous nationalistic songs such as the Star Spangled Banner, This Land is Your Land, and America the Beautiful. They also sung a few lesser known songs and encouraged people to follow the words in the programs passed out and sing along.
Beaufort’s Flag Day celebration was inspirational, patriotic, and uplifting, and was enjoyed by by both young and old alike. Mendoza says that the “committee plans to have next year’s celebration again at the Waterfront Park.”
For dozens of photos of Beaufort’s Flag Day celebration, click here.
Article by Susan Clark. Photos by Eric R. Smith.