The American flag long may it wave.

And, in Emmaus, there are two organizations working to ensure the flag is given its due honor.

Working closely with Marge Heatley, president of the Emmaus Flag Day Association, for the second year, the GFWCPA Woman's Club of Emmaus has assumed responsibility for the annual Flag Day program and the Flag Day essay and poetry contests.

The program and contests were started more than 40 years ago by the Emmaus Flag Day Association. It may be a different organization in charge, but the purpose remains the same to stress patriotism, promulgate and promote interest in the flag and promote the observance of Flag Day.

The program will be held 2 p.m. June 14 in the Arts Pavilion at Emmaus Community Park. The event includes music by the Emmaus Chorale, honoring and retiring the colors by Scout troops, guest speaker Dr. Michael Waddell, executive director of the Emmaus Commemorative Gardens Foundation and the student reading of winning essays and poems.

The Emmaus Chorale, directed this year by interim director Susan Friend, has performed more than 27 years for the Flag Day program.

Heatley said the dwindling membership of the Flag Day Association necessitated a change in the Flag Day program and contest responsibilities if it were to continue. However, she emphasized the Emmaus Flag Day Association has not disbanded.

Pat Waller, president of GFWCPA Woman's Club, said the transition of responsibility for the program and contests came about as a result of a presentation Emmaus Borough Manager Shane Pepe gave to the club in January 2014.

Members of the club asked if there was some service the club could provide for the borough. Pepe replied Heatley could use some help with the Flag Day program and contests.

After approval from the woman's club board, Waller said the club undertook the responsibility for last year's program and is busy preparing for this year's.

Formally established Nov. 23, 1969, with the mayor of Emmaus, the Honorable Joseph Zeller as president, Emmaus' Flag Day Association is celebrating its 46th year. Association minutes indicate several Flag Day advocates met informally four years before the association formally organized.

Flag Day Association officers listed in the 1970 minutes are Zeller, John Nagy, Barbara Loeffler, Margaret Young, Vincent Toth, Roy Stortz, Raymond Schock, Donald Schaffer, Warren Moyer, Paul Miller, Robert Brown Jr., Geneva Miller, Paul Kollar, Charles Gruber, Gerald Grim, Mrs. Marvin Eckhart and Richard Gaal. The Rev. Royce Schaeffer was chaplain.

According to the association's minutes, the essay contest had its beginning in 1970. The first few contests were promoted as oratorical essay contests and open to fifth grade Scouts.

The theme was "Why I believe in Flag Day." The winners June 7, 1970, were Kathryn Striny and Gary Genther. The June 6, 1971 winners were Cynthia Pierog and Kathleen Nowack.

The contest has evolved over the years.

A poetry contest was added and students in the East Penn schools became eligible to enter.

The 2015 poetry contest was open to fifth-graders and the essay to eighth-graders in East Penn's public and non-public schools.

The essay and poetry contest rules were distributed to the schools in March and were collected in May, according to Waller. This year's theme is "What the American Flag means to me." The finalists, who will read their entries at the June 14 Flag Day program, receive gifts from state Rep. Justin Simmons, R-131st and state Sen. Lisa Boscola, D-18th, as well as trophies and medals.

Waller, who says she considers herself Heatley's assistant, said the team working on the contest asked teachers to select the top entries. From that selection, judges select the top three essays and top three poems.

The woman's club team includes Waller, Pat Stasko, Bobbi Talalaj, Karen Servacek, Roberta Daubenspeck, Mae Kemmerer, Peg Young and Sandy Stanton.

Waller praised the effort of Pepe and the Emmaus Public Works crew for their assistance at the park for the program. She said they had the setup done in 10 minutes last year.

"It was a fantastic experience," she added.

In preparation for the transition of responsibility, Heatley said she and Waller worked hours in the basement of borough hall organizing the Flag Day Association files. The files will be moved to the new Emmaus Historical Society museum at 218 Main St. later this year.

According to Heatley, the Emmaus Flag Day Association continues as an organization. She said she is looking for someone or some organization to take on the responsibility for some of the services Frank Sadrovitz provided.

Sadrovitz, a long time member of the association, died this year.

Among the association's services, it makes available for sale flag sets to residents and, after arranging with the borough to drill a hole at the buyer's residence, Sadrovitz would install the receptacle. Sadrovitz was also the member who collected tattered flags to give them an honorable burial during a burning ceremony.

Waller said the woman's club meetings are open to the public. The club, which celebrates its 75th anniversary this year, meets the fourth Monday of the month, September through April, at St. John's Lutheran Church, 501 Chestnut St.

For information on the Emmaus Flag Day Association, visit emmausflagday@aol.com or call 610-966-0966.

For information on the GFWCPA Woman's Club of Emmaus, email EWC_PA@ aol.com.