Volunteers to help hold up giant flag still needed; rifle raffle added
Volunteers are still needed to help hold up a giant American flag measuring 50 feet by 100 feet at this Saturday’s Ellijay Flag Day ceremony. Volunteers, who must be at least 15 years old, are asked to meet at the sponsoring Ellijay Lions Club fairgrounds at 9 a.m. to practice, with the ceremony getting underway at 11 a.m.
“We’re a little bit down on volunteers,” said organizer Sam Burrell. “We’re down to about 20 football players showing up, but have some people from local churches coming. But we could use some more volunteers.”
A new wrinkle has been added to the first-ever Flag Day ceremony. A local gun dealer has donated a .30/.30 Winchester rifle to be raffled — a $1,500 value — at the close of the ceremony. (The winner will have a background check undertaken at the gunstore.)
Burrell said there will be food trucks on-site and flag-oriented handouts for children. The ceremony will feature a recitation of the history of the flag, singing, a bugler and bagpiper. Also on hand will be the sheriff’s office honor guard, and the Daughters of the American Revolution chapter will be passing out flags, flag-oriented coloring books and other items.
The American Legion Riders are arriving at 10:30 a.m., and the event is being filmed by the Gilmer County Fire Department with a drone.
“We can use up to 70 volunteers,” said Burrell, who added the event will be held rain or shine. A long-term weather forecast shows thunderstorms later in the afternoon. Donations will be welcomed for helping to pay for rental of the giant flag.