Weekly journal-miner., 1916-06-21
FLAG DAY SERVICES ARE
 INSPIRING
TRIBUTE TO OLD GLORY
 BY E. s. CLARK IS ONE OF MOST BEAUTIFUL NUMBERS ON PROGRAM.
(From Thursdays Daily.)

Flag Day was observed more or less in all parts of Prescott yesterday but at no place was more patriotic and inspiring tribute paid to Old Glory than at the Elks' opera house where members of the local Elks' lodge held their annual Flag Day eX- ercises. Throughout the city flags and banners were displayed over resi- dences. public buildings and stores and hundreds of citizens wore tiny flags, to remind those who did not know that the day was the anniver- sarv of the birth Of the Stars and Stripes.
 The Elks' exercises were simple and impressive. following generally the Flag Day ritual observed by all Elks' lodges in the United States. The services were opened with the Star Spangled Banner" played by the or chestra. while a stereoptican slide O. the flag was thrown on the screen. Following this a series of colored slides showing incidents Of the Revo lutionarv war the war of 1872 and the Mexican and Spanish-American wars was shown. Miss Comeford then sang "The American Flag. composed by a resident of Prescott.
 The officers of the lodge then took their places on the stage on either side of Exalted Ruler A. J. Herndon and responded to questions of the ritual put by Herndon. The stage and boxes of the theatre were pro fusely decorated with flags and ban ners of red. white and blue.
 T. c. Norris read the History of the Flag" and also a proclamation issued by President Wilson urging all Americans to cooperate with the Elks in all parts of the country in oh serving the anniversary of the birth of the flag
 Mrs. Viva Head Paar sang "Colum bia. the Gem of the Ocean" and was compelled to repeat the chorus as an encore On the encore the lodgemen and audience rose to their feet in body.
 One of the most beautiful parts O. the ritual. the Elks' Tribute to the Flag was given in a clear and in spring manner by F. s. Clark. \ part of the tribute follows:
 Brothers and Friends: In tn@ sense that it has met unequal condi- tions and withstood them that it has challenged unnumbered perils and conquered them, that 1t has encoun- tered uncommon hardships and sur mounted them. the American flag may be said to be of the most heroic orig in. The conflict in which it was born. and from which it rose to its pres ent eminence. added more of luster to the annals of history and resulted in more good to human kind than all of the tournaments. than all of the crusades. than all Of the wars of the past.
 Of all the flags of history this American flag is the greatest, the most benehcent, the most beautiful. Sporting in the breeze 1t IS a mosaic of ribboned loveliness; dropping in softer airs, its staff is transformed in- to May pole of festal delight. It is an honest flag, benevolent flag, righteous flag.
 Hail to this flag of flags! Some times it is called the Stars and Stripes;
 
 times it is called the Star Spanglcd Banner and sometimes and most af- fectionately. Old Glory. Honoring its every name, rejoicing in its record. believing in its mission, we do well to observe this natal anniversary; we do well to cherish and venerate this regal banner, to keep alive its vestal fires and to pcrpetuate its power and glory.
 "We do well to yield unto it the tribute of flowers and song and story. Flags and music and flowers are tlis federated anthem of the American people. Plant roses and the red oL the flag will quicken into life with the breath and blush of returning June Plant lilies and the white of the flag will rcappear with the constancy of sunshine and the dew. Plant violets and the blue of the flag will come again with vows of supernal remem- brance
 Hail, all hail. to this flag of liberty The flag of the brave fathers and lov ing mothers of the republic. As it was their flag. so it Is your flag. and mine Ii is the flag of every Ameri- can rooftree. the flag Of every Amer ican State. May it ever be the flag of that immortal union of State and Territories. Our Country"
 Following patriotic numbers by the orchestra and a recitation. Ships Colors.' by little Miss Layle Stephens daughter of Mir and Mrs. F. W. Stephens, the exercises closed with the singing of America" by the en- tire audience