To help hold up 50-foot x 100-foot American flag
The first-ever Ellijay Flag Day ceremony at the Lions Club Fairgrounds is seeking dozens of volunteers to help hold up a 50-foot by 100-foot American flag on June 14, celebrated as Flag Day across America.
The Saturday event, sponsored by the Ellijay Lions Club, will feature a recitation of the history of the flag, singing, a bugler and bagpiper and also food trucks for refreshments. Volunteers should arrive by 9 a.m. for a practice run, and the program gets underway at 11 a.m.
“I’ve never heard of this being done in north Georgia, so this will be super,” said Sam Burrell, one of the organizers.
“The high school is going through renovations, so we’ll have it at the fairgrounds instead of the stadium. We’re bringing in food trucks to help make it a good Father’s Day/Flag Day weekend, since the next day (June 15) is Father’s Day.
Volunteers must be age 15 or above. Thus far, the local Civil Air Patrol squadron and high school football players are helping. 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.
“There’s a lot of interest because of the flag being so big,” Burrell said.
“We can use up to 70 volunteers, but only have 35 thus far. Kivett Production Inc. owns the flag and rents it out, and this happens to be the flag that was flown over the Super Bowl earlier this year. They’ll send a person along with the flag for instructions on how to set it up and take it down.”
Ellijay Flag Day is taking place rain or shine. Donations will be welcomed for helping to pay for rental of the flag.