Nevada celebrates Flag Day, Army's 242nd birthday at Veterans Memorial

Nevadans celebrated both Flag Day and the U.S. Army’s 242nd birthday Wednesday during a ceremony at the Nevada Veterans Memorial on the state capitol grounds in Carson City.

Along with military personnel, dozens were in attendance to watch the Presentation of the Colors, hear the Army Song and National Anthem, view the Five Flag Ceremony, listen to an Army birthday address and to witness the Retiring of Colors.

Introduction and welcome remarks were made by Landon Miller, an anchor for KTVN Channel 2 News. Carson City Mayor Robert Crowell addressed the dual ceremony, speaking of the history and sacrifices made surrounding each U.S flag.

Flags such as the Betsy Ross flag, Star Spangled Banner, Old Glory and others were introduced. Each flag was presented with their own meaning and significance.

Shortly after, Brig. General Zachary Doser presented the audience with the Army birthday address. The U.S. Army was founded on June 14, 1775, when the Continental Congress authorized enlistment of riflemen to serve the United Colonies for one year.

To conclude the ceremony, refreshments and two decorative cakes were provided to all in attendance.

Mayor Crowell, a Vietnam Veteran and retired Navy Captain, gave his thoughts on the event.

“It is a reminder of what our great country is all about, the symbol of a flag to show for it,” Crowell said. “It carries with it everything that is good about our country. And all of the trials and tribulations we have been able to withstand, it symbolizes us as the greatest nation.”

Below is the text of Mayor Crowell's address:

"Today is a special day in our country’s history. Today, in addition to celebrating the 242nd birthday of the United States Army, we also reflect on the significance and meaning of our United States Flag, commonly known as Old Glory.

Flag Day as we know it, was established by presidential proclamation in 1916. This special day was memorialized by law on August 3, 1949. Although our Flag has changed over the years to reflect the addition of new states to our Union, most recently with the admission of the State of Hawaii, its theme remains as it was when created by the Continental Congress on June 14, 1777.

Although some of the historical underpinnings of the actual creation of the Flag are still being debated, such as what was the role, if any, of Betsy Ross, it is certain that the design of our Flag was created to recognize the 13 original colonies that formed a union that would become the United States of America with 13 5 pointed stars and 13 red and white stripes. Today, the 13 red and white stripes remind us of the events surrounding the formation of the greatest and freest nation on earth. The 50 stars remind us that we are a union of 50 states, all of which are part of this great nation and which embody the motto of the United States: “E pluribus unum”, out of many, one.

In historical terms, our Flag took on particular patriotic significance as a symbol of our country and all that it stood for at the beginning of the Civil War with siege and evacuation of the Union’s garrison at Fort Sumter, South Carolina. Although that battle was lost by the Union, the flag that flew over Fort Sumter remains a symbol of resolve and patriotism in our country’s history. A little known fact of the Fort Sumter siege is that the confederate commander, General Beauregard, although successful in winning the siege, intentionally “invited” the Union soldiers to “evacuate” the fort, refraining from using the more caustic language of surrender.

At the end of the Civil War, the Reverend Henry Ward Beecher declared:

"On this solemn and joyful day, we again lift to the breeze our fathers’ flag, now, again, the banner of the United States, with the fervent prayer that God would crown it with honor, protect it from treason, and send it down to our children.... Terrible in battle, may it be beneficent in peace [and] as long as the sun endures, or the stars, may it wave over a nation neither enslaved nor enslaving.... We lift up our banner, and dedicate it to peace, Union, and liberty, now and forevermore."

Several hours after Beecher made those remarks, President Lincoln was assassinated.

Today, we express our allegiance to our country in many ways, most notably by hand salute or covering our heart during the presentation of our colors and each time we recite the Pledge of Allegiance. The Pledge of Allegiance was adopted by Congress in 1945 and amended in 1954 to include the words, “under God”. Each time we recite the Pledge of Allegiance we are expressing our allegiance not just to our Flag but to our nation. In expressing that allegiance, we pledge fidelity to our country and declare it to be “indivisible” with “freedom and justice” for all.

The word “indivisible” means not capable of being divided. I suspect that when the Pledge of Allegiance was initially crafted, that term was intended to convey that we were united geographically as one people and nation even though we are divided into states. That said, as I recite the Pledge of Allegiance, I find myself thinking what that word means in today’s world where it seems vogue or almost de rigueur to mention in our common discourse that we are a nation divided. For me, the Pledge of Allegiance reflects my pledge to our nation and my fellow citizens that I will protect and defend the United States and its way of life, a nation guided by the rule of law and made up of different states and peoples, all of whom have made the same pledge to remain united in common bond to make and keep our country the greatest nation on earth. E Pluribus Unum.

In preparing for today’s remarks I reread the poem “My Name is Old Glory.” I am sure some or maybe all of you here today have either read or heard that poem originally penned by Senior Master Sergeant Don Miller. For me, and I hope for all of us, it embodies what today is all about.
God Bless America.
God Bless Nevada.
God Bless the community of Carson City.

Read the poem here.