Lifelong Batavia resident David Peebles acknowledges that Flag Day might not be the most famous holiday of the year, but believes it matters a lot to those who live in Batavia as well as many others throughout the country.
“This is an important day here with the connection we have to the recognition of Flag Day,” he said at a celebration in honor of the holiday in Batavia on Sunday. “People who know the history of this look forward to it. It’s a big thing. There are bigger holidays like Christmas or the Fourth of July, but after that, it’s right up there.”
The celebration of Flag Day in Batavia Sunday afternoon featured an extensive afternoon-long program that included an exhibit of historic flags; music; a celebration of veterans, first responders and patriotic organizations; the creation of a “human flag” and more.
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At the conclusion of the program, tours of the Flag Day Monument and Liberty Education Plaza in Batavia were conducted.
The event held a special significance given that this year marks the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence as well as the continued recognition and celebration of Bernard Cigrand, a dentist that lived in Batavia who is credited with getting President Woodrow Wilson to proclaim a day for honoring the American flag in 1916.
Linda Schielke, wife of Batavia Mayor Jeff Schielke, who serves as co-chair of the Batavia Flag Day Committee, said Sunday was the culmination “of what has been a very busy weekend.”
The annual Dr. Cigrand Award at the event, she said, “would be dedicated this year to all the veterans in the crowd, who I hope will all stand up and be acknowledged.”
She said this year being the 250th anniversary of the United States adds a little something extra to the Flag Day celebration.
“I feel with the 250th anniversary of the Declaration that it’s a special celebration this year, and I hope that this will be the kickoff to everybody elevating America 250 in their thinking,” she said. “I’m just hoping in the next few weeks people will feel patriotic and support things red, white and blue.”
The flag exhibit inside the City Council chambers at the Jeffery D. Schielke Government Center attracted many visitors on Sunday including Anna Anthony of Batavia and her husband Mark.
“I think things are a little amped up this year given it’s the 250th year and this collection is amazing for them to share it with everyone,” Anna Anthony said of the flag display.
She said “we just flagged out our house this morning and have flags all over it well before the Fourth of July. The focus on the history of the flag, it doesn’t just have to be the Fourth of July and it’s nice that Batavia starts a little early.”
“I think having all of these flags in one place, it’s awesome to be able to see everything back from the 1700s or 1800s to date and seeing flags that were flown on ships and part of war,” Mark Anthony said about the exhibit.
Heather Niessner of the Illinois Daughters of the American Revolution was at the celebration on Sunday and said “this was our first year to dress up in celebration of America 250.”
“I made this costume myself. I think things are patriotically ramped up this year with programs and talks at libraries and parades,” she said. “It’s really exciting.”
David Sharos is a freelance reporter for The Beacon-News.