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Elks Will Host Flag Day Ceremony
BY CATHY MOLITORIS
To the People I’ve Lost The fact that I will never get to meet you keeps me up at night A tragic loss in which I will never truly understand because you died before I was born Your daughter, my mom, sees you in me The hair cut short and the interest in reading If we could’ve met, would we have been close?
EVENT CALENDAR
BY CATHY MOLITORIS
In Columbia, Memorial Day is more than a date on the calendar. It’s a time to come together, remember and honor the men and women who made the ultimate sacrifice in service to our country. The borough has upheld this tradition since the end of World War II, after hosting what organizers say was the largest Memorial Day parade in the nation. While the parade has grown smaller over time, the spirit behind it remains
Each June 14, Flag Day offers a moment to reflect on the history and meaning behind the nation’s flag. In Columbia, that reflection takes shape in a long-standing community tradition, as the local Elks lodge gathers residents to honor the flag and the values it represents. The Columbia-Middletown Elks 1074 will host its annual Flag Day ceremony on Sunday, June 14, at 1 p.m. The event will be held in the gazebo in Locust Street Park, 550 Locust St., Columbia. “The Elks officers and trustees, led by Exalted Ruler Valerie Kissinger, will present the Elks Flag Day ceremony to celebrate the history of our country’s flag,” said Robin Gamby, who is helping to organize the event. “Assisting with the ceremony are the Frontier Girls, Boy Scout Troop 35 and Columbia Cub Pack 35. Our guest speaker will be author, editor and historian Mark Stewart.” Columbia mayor Leo Lutz will address the audience and issue a proclamation. The Scouts will hand out small flags and lapel pins to the audience prior to the ceremony. Local Elks lodges throughout the United States, Guam, Puerto Rico and the Panama Canal celebrate Flag Day on or around the official date of June 14. The Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks is the only fraternal organization to require a formal observance of Flag Day. “In July of 1908, the Elks Grand Lodge provided for the
See Memorial Day pg 4
See Elks pg 2
T
hese are the words that begin “To the People I’ve Lost,” a poem written by Columbia High School senior Aster Hjelm. Earlier this spring, Aster won both a gold medal and the American Voices Award at the national level in the 2026 Scholastic Art & Writing Awards. More than 110,000 students from across the country entered more than 335,000 original works of art and writing for the competition, said Aster’s teacher, Lindsay Mellon. The poem is a deeply personal recollection of the people who’ve gone before her and the ways their presence is still felt, Aster said. “Through internal reflection, my poem examines how everyday objects can have generations’ worth of stories behind them,” she said. “Personally, the objects that I value the most in my life
townlively.com/ events
See Writing pg 2
Aster Hjelm
C WM
Marking Memorial Day With Pride
R128266
BY CATHY MOLITORIS
The York Middle School Fife and Drum Corps will participate in the Columbia Memorial Day parade.
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