MLN-BeaverDam Flag

From left to right are Chuck Thompson, Harold Straley and Chuck Caldwell raising the American flag. Submitted photo.

The school day at Beaver Dam Elementary School on September 11, 2015 started just like any other with one exception, there was an assembly to celebrate the raising of two new flags to be flown over the school for the coming year.  The Mesquite Elks Lodge #2811, Mesquite Elk Ladies and the Mesquite Veteran’s Center participated in this ceremony to celebrate our nation’s flag and the freedoms it stands for, along with the flag of Arizona.

Beaver Dam Elementary School Principal, Phyllis Leavitt, called the students together for the morning assembly.  After brief introductions by Rick McDonald, Elks Exalted Ruler, a new American Flag and a new Arizona Flag were raised to fly over the school.  Also present were Harold Straley, Leading Knight, Chuck Thompson, Chaplin and Jerry Cole, Esquire of Mesquite Elks Lodge #2811; Linda Leinberger, Elk Ladies President; and Chuck Caldwell from the Mesquite Veteran’s Center,

The students stood silently and watched the raising of the flags.  The new American flag was raised to full staff and then slowly lowered to half-staff by Straley, Caldwell and Thompson to show repect for those who serve our country and for those who have made the ultimate sacrifice to protect the freedoms it represents.  The flag was then raised to full staff.  Caldwell then raised the new Arizona flag and the students recited the Pledge of Allegiance.

The 5’ X 8’ flags were gifts from the Mesquite Elks, the Mesquite Veterans and the Virgin Valley Honor Guard.