Southwest Region

Flags for First Graders

Every year around Presidents Day the Brookings-Harbor Lions Club goes to Kalmiopsis Elementary School in Brookings to visit all the first graders and present each with a small flag, wooden Lions holder and brochure to share with their family. As first graders they have been learning to say the pledge of allegiance and have talked about presidents before this assembly so this gives them an opportunity to actually see the history of our flag.

The Lions present the flag with the red and white cross on a blue field and have the children count the original thirteen stripes. For the Continental Colors the rectangular shape and five pointed stars are stressed. The children then count the 15 stripes on the next flag and are reminded of our national anthem. The next flag shows the 20 stars for each state. The last old flag has 48 stars which represented each state in the United States. The red represents courage, the white represents liberty and the blue represents loyalty. Finally our current flag shows the stars added for Alaska and Hawaii.

The Lions Club then unfolds a large flag to the "oohs and ahhs" of the children. They are very excited to recite the pledge of allegiance to the unfurled flag. It also amazes them to see all the triangular folds which then makes the flag resemble the three cornered cocked hat worn by the soldiers who served under General George Washington, our first president. As each first grader passes by a Lion presents them with their small flag. They have been reminded that it’s their personal flag, how to take care of it and its importance. The Lions then remind them to be proud of their flag and to be proud to be an American.